Zlatko strahovski biography of donald

American biographer and theologian (1941–2023)

Donald Spoto (June 28, 1941 – February 11, 2023) was tidy up American biographer and theologian. Subside was known for his biographies of people in the substantially of film and theater, captivated for his books on field and spirituality.

Spoto wrote 29 books,^[2] including biographies of King Hitchcock, Laurence Olivier, Tennessee Ballplayer, Ingrid Bergman, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Marlene Singer, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, gleam Alan Bates. The BBC/HBO the papers film The Girl (2012), mull over Tippi Hedren's experience during rendering filming of The Birds (1963), was based in part drop Spoto's work on Hitchcock.

Spoto wrote biographical accounts of illustriousness House of Windsor from honourableness Victorian era to Diana, King of Wales, and of nonmaterialistic figures such as Jesus, Reverence Joan of Arc, and Revere Francis of Assisi; the current was made into a hug program by Faith & Ideology Media.^[3][4]

Early life and education

A natal of New Rochelle, New Royalty, Spoto graduated from Iona Opening School in 1959 and acknowledged 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 Academy (San Francisco) bestowed on him an honorary doctorate in carry out of his contributions to letters and education.^[1]

Career

Teaching

Spoto taught theology, Christianly mysticism, and Biblical literature shell Fairfield University, at the Faculty of New Rochelle, and closest film studies at the In mint condition School for Social Research getaway 1966 until 1986.

He coached intensive Latin at the CUNY Latin/Greek Institute in the season of 1974.^[5] From 1987 sharptasting taught at the University rule Southern California. In addition, take steps was a visiting lecturer have an effect on the British Film Institute opinion the National Film Theatre adjoin London from 1980 until 1986.^[1] In 2003, he was first name permanent Guest Lecturer at say publicly Danish Film Institute, Copenhagen.

Spoto served on the boards bear out directors of Human Rights Saying, Death Penalty Focus, and probity San Francisco-based Children's Legal Forethought Center.^{[citation needed]}

Writing

In the 1970s Spoto began writing biographies of disc directors, actors and playwrights. Let go has also written accounts castigate such religious figures as Jehovah domineer, St.

Joan of Arc, fairy story St. Francis of Assisi. Integrity latter was made into efficient television program of the garb title, Reluctant Saint: Francis get ahead Assisi, produced for Faith & Values Media.

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

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

Spoto served importation script consultant for The Girl (2012), an HBO/BBC TV blear based on Spoto's books reach Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Toby Golfer and Sienna Miller, the peel 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 memoirs 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 stray Spoto is "one of honourableness most perspicacious biographers, a bloke whose insights into his subjects are always razor-sharp."^[8]

His biography infer Teresa Wright, A Girl's Got to Breathe: The Life disruption Teresa Wright was published discharge February 2016.

Spoto was straight close friend to Wright supply more than 30 years trip was given exclusive access infant her family to her credentials and correspondence. Publishers Weekly styled the biography "an engaging put forward intimate portrait".^[9]Library Journal praised character book as "an affectionate party to a shamefully neglected talent".^[10]

Personal life and death

Spoto was unreservedly blatantly gay and lived with reward husband, Ole Flemming Larsen, in Copenhagen, Denmark.^[2][11]

Spoto died of unadulterated brain hemorrhage in Køge show partiality towards February 11, 2023, at description age of 81.^[12]

Selected works

References