Background and education

Lonergan was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York. His mother is Jewish and his father is of Irish descent. Lonergan began writing in high school at the Walden School (a now defunct, highly progressive private school in Manhattan with a strong drama program).

His first play, The Rennings Children, was chosen for the Stephen Sondheim founded Young Playwrights Inc. Young Playwright's Festival in 1982 while he was still an undergraduate. Lonergan matriculated to Wesleyan University where he trained as a playwright and director; he would go on to graduate at the NYU Playwriting Program.

Government and commercial work

After graduating from NYU, Lonergan worked as a speechwriter for the Environmental Protection Agency. He also wrote industrial shows—long-play commercials—for clients such as Weight Watchers and Fujifilm.

Career

Stage

Lonergan's first theatrical success came with the play This is Our Youth (1996); it was followed by The Waverley Gallery (1999), based on his grandmother's Greenwich Village Gallery, and later Lobby Hero (2002). His play, The Starry Messenger premiered Off-Broadway in 2009 and starred his wife, J. Smith-Cameron and Matthew Broderick.

Film

Lonergan's film career began with his screenplay for the gangland comedy Analyze This (1999). He was subsequently offered a job writing The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000).

Lonergan directed his own screenplay for You Can Count on Me (2000); the film, which was executive produced by Martin Scorsese, went on to be nominated for and receive numerous writing awards. He contributed to the screenplay for Gangs of New York (2002). In 2005, filming took place for his second film as writer/director, Margaret, starring Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Matthew Broderick, J. Smith-Cameron. The film spent over five years in post-production, with Lonergan, the producers and various editors unable to agree on its final cut, resulting in multiple legal disputes. It was finally released in 2011.

Personal life

Lonergan is married to actress J. Smith-Cameron. They have one daughter, Nellie.

Credits

• The Rennings Children (1982) one-act
• Betrayal by Everyone (1993) one-act (would become This is Our Youth)
• Doug: "Doug Throws a Party" (1994 television episode) writer
• This is Our Youth (1996 play) writer
• Two in the Morning (1997 film short) special thanks
• Analyze This (1999 film) screenplay and story
• The Waverley Gallery (2000 play) writer
• You Can Count on Me (2000 film) writer, director and co-starring role as Father Ron
• The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000 film) writer
• Lobby Hero (2001 play) writer
• Analyze That (2002 film) characters
• Gangs of New York (2002 film) screenplay
• True to You (2004) one-act premiered at TriBeCa Theater Festival
• The Starry Messenger (2009) writer
• Margaret (2011) writer, director
• Manchester by the Sea (2016) writer, director

Awards

• This is Our Youth
  • Nominated for Drama Desk Award for Best Play.
• The Waverley Gallery
  • Nominated for Pulitzer Prize 2001.
• Lobby Hero
  • Nominated for Drama Desk Award for Best Play.
  • Nominated for Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Play and John Gassner Playwrighting Award.
  • Nominated for Olivier Award for Best Play.
• You Can Count On Me
  • Winner of Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Drama, 2000.
  • Winner of Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, 2000.
  • Winner Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay.
  • Winner of Writers Guild of America award for Best Screenplay, 2001.
  • Winner of AFI Award for Best Film and Best New Writer.
  • National Board of Review Top Ten films of 2001.
  • Nominated for Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, 2000.
  • Nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay, 2001.
  • Laura Linney was nominated for the Academy Award for best actress, and won best actress awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, the Toronto Film Critics Association and the National Society of Film Critics for her performance.
• Gangs of New York
  • Nominated for Academy Award for Best Screenplay, 2002.
  • Nominated for Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]