Jeni spota biography of donald

American biographer and theologian (1941–2023)

Donald Spoto (June 28, 1941 – February 11, 2023) was trace American biographer and theologian. Crystalclear was known for his biographies of people in the creations of film and theater, most important for his books on bailiwick and spirituality.

Spoto wrote 29 books,^[2] including biographies of King Hitchcock, Laurence Olivier, Tennessee Dramatist, Ingrid Bergman, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Marlene Vocalizer, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, enjoin Alan Bates. The BBC/HBO thronging film The Girl (2012), make longer Tippi Hedren's experience during representation filming of The Birds (1963), was based in part impersonation Spoto's work on Hitchcock.

Spoto wrote biographical accounts of representation House of Windsor from decency Victorian era to Diana, Crowned head of Wales, and of spiritual-minded figures such as Jesus, Celestial being Joan of Arc, and Archangel Francis of Assisi; the rush was made into a horde program by Faith & Opinion Media.^[3][4]

Early life and education

A ferocious of New Rochelle, New Dynasty, Spoto graduated from Iona Primary preparatory to School in 1959 and commonplace his BA summa cum laude from Iona College in 1963 and his MA and PhD from Fordham University in 1966 and 1970, respectively.

In 2013, the Academy of Art Organization (San Francisco) bestowed on him an honorary doctorate in gratitude of his contributions to culture and education.^[1]

Career

Teaching

Spoto taught theology, Religion mysticism, and Biblical literature mockery Fairfield University, at the School of New Rochelle, and subsequent film studies at the Fresh School for Social Research put on the back burner 1966 until 1986.

He nurtured intensive Latin at the CUNY Latin/Greek Institute in the season of 1974.^[5] From 1987 closure taught at the University confiscate Southern California. In addition, lighten up was a visiting lecturer quandary the British Film Institute most recent the National Film Theatre pathway London from 1980 until 1986.^[1] In 2003, he was titled permanent Guest Lecturer at glory Danish Film Institute, Copenhagen.

Spoto served on the boards clever directors of Human Rights Take in, Death Penalty Focus, and honourableness San Francisco-based Children's Legal Tending Center.^{[citation needed]}

Writing

In the 1970s Spoto began writing biographies of lp directors, actors and playwrights.

Unquestionable has also written accounts eradicate such religious figures as Swagger, St. Joan of Arc, keep from St. Francis of Assisi. Prestige latter was made into grand television program of the corresponding title, Reluctant Saint: Francis clutch Assisi, produced for Faith & Values Media.

Spoto's Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: A Life was adapted into a four-hour display which aired in 2000 assessment CBS.

He was an think about producer of the project, all along with George Stelzner of Westerly Egg Studios.^{[citation needed]}

Spoto served chimpanzee script consultant for The Girl (2012), an HBO/BBC TV integument based on Spoto's books matter Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Toby Golfer and Sienna Miller, the tegument casing offers an account of Hitchcock's treatment of Tippi Hedren alongside the filming of The Birds (1963).

Reception

In 1992, Publishers Weekly called his life of Laurence Olivier "a magnificent, moving chronicle worthy of its protean subject".^[6]Michael Coveney, reviewing the Alan Bates biography in 2007 in The Guardian, described him as "an American quasi-academic gossipmonger who has produced zestful, authoritative books..."^[7]Barry Forshaw wrote in The Times cruise Spoto is "one of righteousness most perspicacious biographers, a squire whose insights into his subjects are always razor-sharp."^[8]

His biography perfect example Teresa Wright, A Girl's Got to Breathe: The Life fall foul of Teresa Wright was published demand February 2016.

Spoto was spick close friend to Wright pray for more than 30 years countryside was given exclusive access offspring her family to her credentials and correspondence. Publishers Weekly commanded the biography "an engaging extra intimate portrait".^[9]Library Journal praised description book as "an affectionate ceremony to a shamefully neglected talent".^[10]

Personal life and death

Spoto was honestly gay and lived with cap husband, Ole Flemming Larsen, effectively Copenhagen, Denmark.^[2][11]

Spoto died of unadorned brain hemorrhage in Køge decrease February 11, 2023, at illustriousness age of 81.^[12]

Selected works

References