Jeff Maguire
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Maguire was broke and on the verge of moving his family from California to New Hampshire when he learned that his screenplay for "In the Line of Fire" (1993)--which became a Clint Eastwood blockbuster--had been purchased to be made into a film. Though his family had to endure seven years of financial near-disaster, Maguire's work may well have benefited from the series of life lessons (e.g., early professional failure; drug abuse; working as a waiter in Beverly Hills; volunteering as one of Mother Teresa's counselors to L.A. street gangs; and becoming involved with the teachings of a Bombay-based spiritual leader) he learned before finally achieving success in his chosen profession.
Maguire entered the industry in 1981 as a co-writer of the original story (subsequently completely rewritten) for John Huston's "Victory," a generally reviled WWII POW soccer movie starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, and soccer great Pele. Five years later he co-wrote the story for "Toby McTeague" (1986), an obscure Canadian-produced French-language children's feature about parenting and dog sled racing in Northern Quebec. "In the Line of Fire," a project with a nine-year genesis in development hell, became Maguire's first credit as a screenwriter. This tense and thought-provoking political thriller provided an excellent showcase for stars Eastwood and John Malkovich and earned Maguire an Oscar nomination.
Life Events
1966
Raised (along with three siblings) by his widowed mother after his father died of a stroke (date approximate)
1981
Co-wrote original story (with Yaba Yoblonsky and Djordje Milicevic) for John Huston's "Victory"
1985
Resumed pursuing a writing career after marrying and fathering a son; family lived mostly on loans from relatives
1986
Co-wrote original story (with Djordje Milicevic) for "Toby McTeague", a Canadian French-language family adventure film
1990
Approached by producer Jeff Apple to develop his Secret Service agent concept into a film treatment
1993
First produced screenplay, "In the Line of Fire"; also appeared in bit part as a Secret Service agent; received Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay
2003
Adapted the Michael Crichton novel, "Timeline" for the big screen
2006
Wrote the screenplay for "Gridiron Gang" inspired by a 1993 documentary that follows a probation officer who forms a football team of juvenile inmates
Family
Companions
