David Beaird
Encyclopedia
David Beaird is an American film and stage director, screenwriter, and playwright.
for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the play "The Hot l Baltimore" at the Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. In 1974 he founded the Wisdom Bridge Theatre which flourished after Robert Falls
took the director's post in 1977. His first feature film The Party Animal
, a comedy, was released in 1984. His next film Octavia (1984) was about a blind woman who is raped by a motorcycle gang. In 1986 he came to wider prominence with the comedy My Chauffeur
starring Deborah Foreman
. In 1988 he shot the comedies Pass the Ammo
with Bill Paxton
, Linda Kozlowski
, Tim Curry
, and Annie Potts
and It Takes Two featuring Kimberly Foster
. In 1991 he adapted his 1985 stage play Scorchers
for the big screen, with Faye Dunaway
, James Earl Jones
, Emily Lloyd
, Jennifer Tilly
, and Leland Crooke
in the leading roles. In 1993 he created the thirteen part television series Key West
. In 1994 he brought 900 Oneonta, a black comedy about a dysfunctional family
, to the stage.It had its premiere at the Lyric Hammersmith
in London
. Afterwards it was staged in the Old Vic
and then at the West End theatre
. It was the last play at the Circle Repertory Theatre in New York City before it was closed in 1996. Eddie Izzard
, Leland Crooke, Jon Cryer
, and Douglas Henshall
performed in the play. In 2005 he directed the film The Civilization of Maxwell Bright
which earned him awards at the Beverly Hills Film Festival
, the WorldFest Houston and the Florida Film Festival
in 2005.
Career
In 1973 he was recipient of the Joseph Jefferson AwardJoseph Jefferson Awards
The Joseph Jefferson Awards are given annually by a volunteer non-profit committee to acknowledge excellence in theatre in the Chicago area. Founded in 1968, the awards are given in tribute to actor Joseph Jefferson...
for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the play "The Hot l Baltimore" at the Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. In 1974 he founded the Wisdom Bridge Theatre which flourished after Robert Falls
Robert Falls
Robert Falls is an American theater director and the current Artistic Director of the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.-Early years:Falls was born in Ashland, Illinois to Arthur Joseph Falls and Nancy Stribling...
took the director's post in 1977. His first feature film The Party Animal
The Party Animal
The Party Animal is a movie written and directed by David Beaird. Since its inauspicious debut in 1984, it has become a minor cult classic.-Cast:*Matthew Causey - Pondo Sinatra*Timothy Carhart - Studly*Jerry Jones - Elbow*Robin Harlan - Natasha...
, a comedy, was released in 1984. His next film Octavia (1984) was about a blind woman who is raped by a motorcycle gang. In 1986 he came to wider prominence with the comedy My Chauffeur
My Chauffeur
My Chauffeur is an American comedy film starring E. G. Marshall, Deborah Foreman, and Howard Hesseman. It was written and directed by David Beaird. The original music score was composed by Paul Hertzog. The film was released on January 24, 1986, and was marketed with the tagline "Some women will,...
starring Deborah Foreman
Deborah Foreman
Deborah Lynn Foreman is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her starring role in the 1983 movie Valley Girl, as "Julie Richman" acting opposite Nicolas Cage as "Randy".-Early life:...
. In 1988 he shot the comedies Pass the Ammo
Pass the Ammo
Pass the Ammo is a 1988 film starring Bill Paxton, Annie Potts, and Tim Curry. The film is a spoof of televangelism released right after the real-life Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart scandals. The movie's working title during production, "...And Pass the Ammunition," references the phrase "praise...
with Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
William "Bill" Paxton is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic...
, Linda Kozlowski
Linda Kozlowski
Linda Kozlowski is an American actress. She has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award.-Early life:Kozlowski was born in Fairfield, Connecticut to a Polish family...
, Tim Curry
Tim Curry
Timothy James "Tim" Curry is a British actor, singer, composer and voice actor, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film and television productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California....
, and Annie Potts
Annie Potts
Anne Hampton "Annie" Potts is an American film and television actress. She is known for her roles in the 1980s popular films such as Ghostbusters , Pretty in Pink , Jumpin' Jack Flash , Who's Harry Crumb? and Ghostbusters II . Potts is also known as a voice-actress...
and It Takes Two featuring Kimberly Foster
Kimberly Foster
Kimberly Foster is an American actress primarily active in the 1980s and 1990s.Foster is best known for her role as Michelle Stevens in the later seasons of the prime-time drama Dallas which she played from 1989 to 1991. Her character was briefly a sister-in-law to Bobby Ewing and later briefly a...
. In 1991 he adapted his 1985 stage play Scorchers
Scorchers (film)
Scorchers is an ensemble drama from 1991 written and directed by David Beaird with a cast of among others Faye Dunaway, James Earl Jones, Denholm Elliott, Leland Crooke and Emily Lloyd...
for the big screen, with Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is an American actress.Dunaway won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Network after receiving previous nominations for the critically acclaimed films Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown...
, James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
, Emily Lloyd
Emily Lloyd
-Early life:Emily Lloyd Pack was born in London, the daughter of Sheila , now known as , a theatrical agent who was a longtime secretary at Harold Pinter's stage agency, and Roger Lloyd-Pack, a stage actor, well-known as Trigger in the British hit sitcom Only Fools and Horses. Her grandfather,...
, Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly is an American actress and poker player. She is an Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet winner. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly.-Early life:...
, and Leland Crooke
Leland Crooke
Leland Crooke is an American actor from stage and film. He is known from several stage plays and films by David Beaird.-Career:In February 1980 Crooke gave his stage debut in the play Bal which was staged at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago...
in the leading roles. In 1993 he created the thirteen part television series Key West
Key West (TV series)
Key West was a short-lived 1993 hour long comedy-drama television series set in Key West, Florida. Thirteen episodes aired on Fox between January and June 1993. It was created by David Beaird and Allan Marcil...
. In 1994 he brought 900 Oneonta, a black comedy about a dysfunctional family
Dysfunctional family
A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehavior, and often abuse on the part of individual members occur continually and regularly, leading other members to accommodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangement is...
, to the stage.It had its premiere at the Lyric Hammersmith
Lyric Hammersmith
The Lyric Theatre, also known as the Lyric Hammersmith, is a theatre on King Street, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, which takes pride in its original, "groundbreaking" productions....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Afterwards it was staged in the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
and then at the West End theatre
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
. It was the last play at the Circle Repertory Theatre in New York City before it was closed in 1996. Eddie Izzard
Eddie Izzard
Edward John "Eddie" Izzard is a British stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy style takes the form of rambling, whimsical monologue and self-referential pantomime...
, Leland Crooke, Jon Cryer
Jon Cryer
Jonathan Niven "Jon" Cryer is an American actor, screenwriter and film producer. He is the son of actress–singer Gretchen Cryer. He made his motion picture debut in the 1984 romantic comedy No Small Affair, but gained greater fame as "Duckie" in the 1986 John Hughes-scripted film Pretty in Pink...
, and Douglas Henshall
Douglas Henshall
Douglas James Henshall is a Scottish actor probably best known for his role as Professor Nick Cutter in the British science fiction series Primeval.-Early life:...
performed in the play. In 2005 he directed the film The Civilization of Maxwell Bright
The Civilization of Maxwell Bright
The Civilization of Maxwell Bright is a 2005 romance film starring Patrick Warburton, Marie Matiko, Eric Roberts, Leland Crooke and Jennifer Tilly that has seen success on the arthouse movie circuit. It has won awards at the WorldFest Houston, New York VisionFest, Florida Film Festival, Boulder...
which earned him awards at the Beverly Hills Film Festival
Beverly Hills Film Festival
The Beverly Hills Film Festival is a film festival in the United States founded by award-winning independent filmmaker Nino Simone in 2001. The festival debuted in 2001, and has shown regular growth each year...
, the WorldFest Houston and the Florida Film Festival
Florida Film Festival
The Florida Film Festival, produced by Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida, is an annual international film festival. Showcasing the best American independent and foreign films, the festival has become one of the most respected regional film events in the United States.-Overview:The Festival...
in 2005.