Kurt Luedtke was an American screenwriter and executive editor of the Detroit Free Press.
14 Facts About Kurt Luedtke
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Kurt Luedtke wrote Out of Africa, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
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Kurt Luedtke wrote Absence of Malice, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, as well as Random Hearts.
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Kurt Luedtke obtained a bachelor's degree from Brown University, then joined the fast-track summer law program at the University of Michigan Law School.
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Kurt Luedtke then studied at the Medill School of Journalism of Northwestern University.
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Kurt Luedtke became a newspaper reporter, first in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then at the Miami Herald.
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Kurt Luedtke started off as general assignment reporter, then rose to executive editor at age 33.
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Kurt Luedtke left the Free Press and quit journalism altogether in 1978.
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Kurt Luedtke moved to Hollywood to break into the film business, where his only entry was as a screenwriter.
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Kurt Luedtke's intention was to write a book, but his idea for a book about reporting came to the attention of Orion Pictures, which optioned it before it was written for $20,000 and pitched it to director George Roy Hill, who liked it but was unavailable to help on the screenplay.
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Kurt Luedtke offered to write the screenplay for free providing that he could have his idea back if Orion didn't proceed with the movie.
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Kurt Luedtke received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, a rare accomplishment for a first-time screenwriter.
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Kurt Luedtke again collaborated with Pollack in Out of Africa.
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Kurt Luedtke was married to Eleanor for 55 years until his death.