Frank Pierson

Frank Romer Pierson served in the United States Army in the Pacific during World War II and graduated from Harvard University. Starting as a journalist for Time and Life, he moved to Hollywood television, writing for 'Have Gun – Will Travel' before writing the Oscar-nominated screenplay for 'Cat Ballou' (1965).

Pierson co-wrote the legendary prison drama 'Cool Hand Luke' (1967), immortalizing the line 'What we've got here is failure to communicate'. In 1975, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Sidney Lumet's 'Dog Day Afternoon'. He directed Barbra Streisand in 'A Star Is Born' (1976) and later guided the film industry as president of the Academy (2001–2005).