Screenwriter and journalist Jeremy Larner, who won a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award for writing Robert Redford‘s 1972 film “The Candidate,” passed away on February 24 after struggling with an undisclosed illness “for some time,” The Hollywood Reporter says they learned from his son.
Larner, a native of Indianapolis, spent his final days in an Oakland, California nursing facility, per the report.
“The Candidate” was one of Larner’s two screenplays that came to fruition, although he revealed he’d been paid to write “about a dozen” others. His other work that made it to the screen was an adaptation of his 1964 novel “Drive, He Said,” which was the first film directed by Jack Nicholson.
Larner’s Hollywood breakthrough came about after his book “Nobody Knows: Reflections on the McCarthy Campaign of 1968” was serialized in Harper’s magazine. It success led to Larner being approached by Redford and director Michael Ritchie to write a screen play for the project. He incorporated his personal experiences on the campaign trail supporting 1968 presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy.
Larner Said Despite Winning an Oscar, He Didn’t Have the ‘Clout’ to Get More Screenplays Produced
Reflecting on why none of his screenplays were produced following his Oscar win, Larner said, “I thought I was the exception to the rule in terms of writers having clout, but writers don’t have any clout unless they get to be Paddy Chayefsky,” referencing the 3-time Oscar winner known for writing “Marty” and “The Hospital.”
Another of Larner’s notable projects was writing a commercial for Paul Newman, and he wrote environmental speeches for Redford.
Jeremy Larner Thanked Robert Redford in His Oscars Speech
In his acceptance speech for “The Candidate” screenplay, Larner said, “First of all, I’d like to thank Robert Redford for his help, our director Michael Ritchie, my friend Ziggy who got me into this, and all the people watching tonight over at Walder’s.”
Larner then acknowledged the politicians from whom he drew many of his ideas, saying, “Most of all, I’d like to thank the political figures of our time, who give me terrific inspiration.” The remark drew a small wave of laughter from the crowd.
Larner went on, “I think as long as they continue to do the things they do and to use the words that they use, words like ‘honor,’ there’ll be better pictures and sharper pictures even better than ‘The Candidate.’ Thanks very much.”
