Elmore Leonard Biography

He is probably most well-known as the author behind the hit films 'Get Shorty', 'Out of Sight' and 'Jackie Brown' (based on Leonard’s ‘Rum Punch’), in which his novels were adapted for the big screen.

Leonard’s father worked for General Motors (GM), as a site locator for GM facilities, which resulted in the family relocating frequently. The family moved around until Leonard reached nine-years-old in 1934 and they finally settled in Detroit.

Around 1935, Leonard became interested in writing after reading a serialisation of 'All Quiet on the Western Front' in the Detroit Times.

With the famous gangsters Bonnie and Clyde hitting national headlines, finally meeting their death in May 1934, and The Tigers making the World Series in the same year, Leonard used both these fascinations with guns and sports as influences for his future work.

After graduating in 1943, Leonard joined the navy before leaving service in 1946 and enrolling at the University of Detroit. At university he began writing again, entering short story contests and when he graduated in 1950 Leonard got his first break in the fiction market publishing western novels.

Leonard has since forayed into mystery, crime, and more topical genres, as well as screenwriting. His work has also been commended by critics for its gritty realism and strong dialogue.

Success has taken Leonard to Hollywood as well. The film 'Get Shorty', based on Leonard’s book, was released in October 1995 starring John Travolta and was an immediate critical and commercial success.

Award-winning director Quentin Tarantino directed 'Jackie Brown' in 1997, a film based on Leonard’s novel 'Rum Punch'. Tarantino is said to also want to bring three more of Leonard novels to the big screen: 'Bandits', 'Freaky Deaky' and 'Killshot'. Lastly, 'Out of Sight', which starred George Clooney, was released in June 1998 to a great public response.

Leonard now lives in Michigan with his wife and is the father of five children and the grandfather of nine.