Melissa Mathison, an award-winning American film and TV screenwriter, was not only known for her remarkable talent but also for her activism for Tibetan freedom. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she embarked on a successful career in the film industry after being offered a job by Francis Ford Coppola. Her first screenplay, for the film ‘The Black Stallion,’ catapulted her into the spotlight and paved the way for her to work on iconic movies like ‘E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial’ and ‘The BFG.’ Sadly, Melissa Mathison passed away at the age of 65 due to neuroendocrine cancer, leaving behind a legacy of exceptional storytelling.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Melissa Marie Mathison
- Died At Age: 65
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Harrison Ford (m. 1983 – div. 2004)
- Father: Richard Randolph Mathison
- Mother: Margaret Jean Kieffer Mathison
- Children: Georgia Ford, Malcolm Ford
- Born Country: United States
- Screenwriters
- Social Activists
- Height: 5’11” (180 cm), 5’11” Females
- Died on: November 4, 2015
- Place of death: Los Angeles
- U.S. State: California
- City: Los Angeles
- More Facts
- Education: University of California, Berkeley
- Awards: Light of Truth Award
Childhood & Early Life
Melissa Mathison was born Melissa Marie Mathison on June 3, 1950, in Los Angeles. Her parents were Richard Randolph Mathison, the Los Angeles bureau chief of ‘Newsweek,’ and Margaret (Pegeen) Jean Mathison (née Kieffer), a food writer and convenience-food entrepreneur. She grew up in Hollywood Hills with four siblings. Melissa graduated from Providence High School in 1968 and then attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied political science.
Career
While studying at UC Berkeley, Melissa Mathison began working as an assistant for Francis Ford Coppola, a family friend. This opportunity led her to work on films such as ‘The Godfather, Part II’ (1974) and ‘The Conversation’ (1974). During her time with Coppola, she was encouraged to write the screenplay for ‘The Black Stallion’ (1979), which gained attention from Steven Spielberg.
Spielberg approached Mathison with a story that eventually became the beloved film ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982). She collaborated with Spielberg on the screenplay and received multiple awards and nominations for her work. Mathison also wrote the screenplay for ‘The Escape Artist’ (1982), ‘Twilight Zone: The Movie’ (1983), ‘Son of the Morning Star’ (1991), ‘The Indian in the Cupboard’ (1995), ‘Kundun’ (1997), and ‘The BFG’ (2016).
Major Works
One of Melissa Mathison’s most well-known works is her screenplay for ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982). Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film tells the heartwarming story of a young boy’s friendship with an extraterrestrial. Mathison wrote the script in just eight weeks, and the film became an immediate blockbuster.
Another significant work by Mathison is her screenplay for ‘Kundun’ (1997), a biographical drama about the Dalai Lama. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film received four Academy Award nominations.
Awards & Achievements
Melissa Mathison won the Saturn Award for Best Writing for ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982) in 1983. She also received the New Generation Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards in 1982 and the WGA Award (Screen) for Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen in 1983 from the Writers Guild of America for the same film. She received nominations for prestigious awards such as the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTA Awards, and Hugo Awards for her work on ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982) and ‘The BFG’ (2016).
Family & Personal Life
Melissa Mathison was married to actor Harrison Ford from 1983 to 2004. They had two children together, Malcolm and Georgia. She also became a stepmother to Ford’s two children from his previous marriage. Mathison had a lasting friendship with the Dalai Lama, whom she met while working on ‘Kundun’ in 1990. She was a lifelong activist for Tibetan freedom and served on the board of the International Campaign for Tibet. Mathison passed away on November 4, 2015, at the age of 65, after battling neuroendocrine cancer.
Trivia
- Melissa Mathison worked as a babysitter for Francis Ford Coppola’s children.
- Her divorce from Harrison Ford resulted in one of the most famous payouts in legal history, with her receiving $85,000,000 as a settlement amount.