Michael Crichton


Director, Novelist
Michael Crichton

About

Also Known As
John Michael Crichton, Michael Douglas, John Lange, Jeffery Hudson
Birth Place
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Born
October 23, 1942
Died
November 04, 2008
Cause of Death
Cancer

Biography

Dubbed "The Father of the Techno Thriller," author Michael Crichton first established himself as a physician and lecturer before turning his expertise to books, films and television. Though he penned several books under various pseudonyms, Crichton emerged as a best-selling genre writer with The Andromeda Strain (1969). Shortly after Robert Wise's successful film adaptation of that novel...

Family & Companions

Joan Radam
Wife
Married in 1965; divorced in 1970.
Kathy St Johns
Wife
Married in 1978; divorced in 1980.
Suzanne Childs
Wife
Attorney. Divorced.
Anne-Marie Martin
Wife
Actor, screenwriter. Married in 1987; separated in late 2001; filed for a divorce in September 2002.

Bibliography

"Timeline"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1999)
"Airframe"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1996)
"The Lost World"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1995)
"Disclosure"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1994)

Biography

Dubbed "The Father of the Techno Thriller," author Michael Crichton first established himself as a physician and lecturer before turning his expertise to books, films and television. Though he penned several books under various pseudonyms, Crichton emerged as a best-selling genre writer with The Andromeda Strain (1969). Shortly after Robert Wise's successful film adaptation of that novel in 1971, Crichton moved into feature directing himself with "Westworld" (1973), a robot thriller set in a Western theme park. Over the ensuing decades, Crichton churned out numerous and eminently readable novels that tended to be plot-driven rather than character studies and made excellent fodder for screenplays; many of which he adapted and even directed. Perhaps his biggest success was penning the novel Jurassic Park, which was later turned into one of the biggest blockbusters in the history of film. Surprisingly pessimistic for bestsellers, his novels were meticulously researched and well constructed arguments supporting the author's various pet peeves - namely the arrogance of scientists, and the manifold abuses of political and economic power. Meanwhile, as a writer-director, he crafted several compelling thrillers, like "Coma" (1978) and "The First Great Train Robbery" (1979), as well as created one of the most successful television shows in history with "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009) - all of which helped to establish Crichton as a powerful and lucrative force in several mediums.

Born on Oct. 23, 1942 in Chicago, IL, Crichton was raised in Rosyln, NY by his father, John, an executive editor of Advertising Age, and his mother, Zula. Crichton attended Harvard University where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, wrote for the Harvard Crimson, played basketball and graduated summa cum laude with an undergraduate degree in anthropology in 1964. Following a stint as a Henry Russell Shaw Traveling Fellow and Visiting Lecturer in anthropology at the University of Cambridge, he earned his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1969. He followed this up with a postdoctoral fellowship at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where he researched public policy with British mathematician Jacob Bronowski. While attending to his studies in medical school, Crichton began writing novels under the nom de plumes Jeffrey Hudson and John Lange. As Jeffrey Hudson, his medical thriller Case of Need won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1969. That same year, Crichton published the techno-thriller, The Andromeda Strain, under his given name, which established himself as a best-selling author.

Crichton made the jump to film with the adaptation of "The Andromeda Strain" (1971), then quickly moved into his own effort by directing "Pursuit" (1972), a made-for-television movie based on the novel Binary by his old pen name, John Lange. After an adaptation of A Case of Need into the Blake Edwards murder mystery "The Carey Treatment" (1972), Crichton made his feature directorial debut with "Westworld" (1973), a sci-fi thriller about robots running wild after a computer glitch in an amusement park for rich people. Following the adaptation of his own novel for "The Terminal Man" (1974), from which he was subsequently fired for straying too much from the book, he directed his second feature, "Coma" (1978), a tense medical thriller about the strange goings-on at a Boston hospital. He deviated from techno-thriller territory when he directed "The First Great Train Robbery" (1979), a crime drama based on the first-ever robbery of a moving train in 1855 England. Crichton returned to his bread-and-butter to direct "Looker" (1981), an almost-ridiculous look at celebrity and the power of mind control via television, and "Runaway" (1984), which starred Tom Selleck as a futuristic cop tasked with terminating malfunctioning robots.

Following his last directing effort with the disappointing courtroom drama "Physical Evidence" (1989), Crichton graduated to mega-budget filmmaking with two high-profile adaptations. Steven Spielberg helmed the $70 million special-effects-laden version of Crichton's 1990 novel "Jurassic Park" (1993) about the biogenetically engineered return of dinosaurs to a theme park. This combined two of Crichton's recurring themes - human arrogance and greed falling prey to the power of nature. Around the same time, writer-director Philip Kaufman steered Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes in a $35 million adaptation of "Rising Sun" (1992), which examined the darker side of Japanese investment in the United States. Crichton co-wrote the screenplay for "Jurassic Park" with David Koepp, while he and screenwriter Michael Backes collaborated on "Rising Sun." Meanwhile, Barry Levinson directed "Disclosure" (1994), based on Crichton's novel released that same year, which dealt with sexual harassment in the work place; the twist being that a male employee (Michael Douglas) sues his newly appointed female superior (Demi Moore) for improper behavior. Though he served as a co-producer, Crichton left the screen adaptation to Paul Attanasio. The film itself opened to much controversy and healthy box-office returns.

As Crichton became a household name, his previously published novels were bought by studios for adaptation, while newly released material was gobbled up before they had a chance to hit the shelves. A film adaptation of Crichton's 1980 novel Congo was made into a much-maligned thriller in 1995, while "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" (1997), a sequel to the 1993 blockbuster, was released to greater fanfare and box office dollars. Crichton and his wife Anne-Marie Martin collaborated on the script for "Twister" (1996), a goofy and often ridiculous actioner about scientists who study tornadoes. While the special effects overwhelmed the rather trite story, the film went on to become a blockbuster. Meanwhile, Crichton and Martin were sued by another screenwriter who claimed they had plagiarized his work, but a jury dismissed the claim. Crichton went on to co-produce a film version of his novel Eaters of the Dead but reportedly clashed with director John McTiernan's vision and the resulting struggles kept the film from receiving distribution for two years. When it was released as "The 13th Warrior" (1999), the film was roundly dismissed by critics and audiences. In the interim, Crichton has also served as a producer on the screen adaptation of his undersea novel "Sphere" (1998).

While he certainly knew his way around a film set, television was largely an unexplored medium for Crichton until the fall of 1994. After a long absence since his directorial debut with the television movie "Pursuit," Crichton returned to the small screen to create and executive produce the acclaimed medical drama "ER." One of the five top-rated shows of its first season, "ER" developed into one of the most riveting and influential medical dramas since "St. Elsewhere" (NBC, 1982-88). Boasting a talented ensemble, gritty stories, frenzied action and buckets of blood, "ER" became another triumph for the former M.D. Though he was credited for his work on "Jurassic Park III" (2001) and "Timeline" (2003), Crichton kept his focus on "ER" and churning out novels like Prey (2002), State of Fear (2004) and Next. After the release of the latter novel, Crichton maintained a low profile; the reason for which became apparent on Nov. 5, 2008 when it was announced suddenly that he had died the previous day in Los Angeles after a private battle with cancer. He was 66.

Filmography

 

Director (Feature Film)

Physical Evidence (1988)
Director
Runaway (1984)
Director
Looker (1981)
Director
The Great Train Robbery (1979)
Director
Coma (1978)
Director
Westworld (1973)
Director
Pursuit (1972)
Director

Cast (Feature Film)

The Man Who Shot Chinatown: The Life and Work of John A. Alonzo (2007)

Writer (Feature Film)

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
Source Material
Jurassic World (2015)
Source Material
Timeline (2003)
Source Material
Jurassic Park III (2001)
Source Material
Jurassic Park III (2001)
Characters As Source Material
Extreme (1999)
Screenwriter
Sphere (1998)
Screenplay
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Source Material
Twister (1996)
Screenplay
Disclosure (1994)
Source Material
Jurassic Park (1993)
Screenplay
Rising Sun (1993)
Screenplay
Runaway (1984)
Screenplay
Looker (1981)
Screenplay
The Great Train Robbery (1979)
Screenplay
Coma (1978)
Screenplay
The Terminal Man (1974)
Source Material
Extreme Close-Up (1973)
Screenplay
Westworld (1973)
Screenplay

Producer (Feature Film)

The 13th Warrior (1999)
Producer
Sphere (1998)
Producer
Twister (1996)
Producer
Disclosure (1994)
Producer

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

The 13th Warrior (1999)
Source Material (From Novel)
Sphere (1998)
Source Material (From Novel)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Source Material (From Novel)
Congo (1995)
Source Material (From Novel)
Disclosure (1994)
Source Material (From Novel)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Source Material (From Novel)
Rising Sun (1993)
Source Material (From Novel)
The Great Train Robbery (1979)
Source Material (From Novel)
The Terminal Man (1974)
Source Material (From Novel)
Pursuit (1972)
Source Material (From Novel)

Cast (Special)

ER 200: A Dateline Special (2003)
The 53rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1996)
Presenter
Barbara Walters Presents The 10 Most Fascinating People of 1996 (1996)
Interviewee

Cast (Short)

On Location with Westworld (1973)
Himself

Writer (TV Mini-Series)

The Andromeda Strain (2008)
Source Material

Life Events

1966

Published several novels under the pseudonym John Lange

1970

Co-authored <i>Dealing</i> with his younger brother Douglas under the shared pen name Michael Douglas

1971

First screen credit from a novel, "The Andromeda Strain"

1972

Directing debut, the ABC TV-movie "Pursuit"; based on his novel <i>Binary</i> (written as John Lange)

1973

Screenwriting debut, "Extreme Close-up/Sex through a Window"

1973

Feature film directing debut (also screenwriter), "Westworld"

1974

Hired to adapt his novel, <i>The Terminal Man</i> into a feature; fired when his screenplay deviated too much from book (was eventually written by director Mike Hodges)

1979

Directed and wrote the screenplay for "The First Great Train Robbery" which is based on his novel of the same name

1981

Helmed the sci-fi film "Looker" starring Albert Finney and Susan Dey

1984

Wrote and directed the feature "Runaway"

1984

Created the graphical text adventure game "Amazon" which was produced by John Wells

1993

Co-wrote (with David Koepp) the screenplay for "Jurassic Park"; was adapted from his novel of the same name and directed by Steven Spielberg

1994

Created and executive produced the long running series "ER" (NBC), also co-scripted the pilot; John Wells also produced

1994

Barry Levinson directed the feature adaptation of his novel "Disclosure"

1996

Co-scripted (with then-wife Anne-Marie Martin) the boxoffice blockbuster, "Twister"

1997

Spielberg directed "The Lost World" which was based on his novel of the same name and is a follow-up to "Jurassic Park"

1998

Co-produced the screen adaptation of "Sphere"

1999

Served as co-producer of the film "The Thirteenth Warrior"

1999

Founded Timeline Computer Entertainment with David Smith; signed a multi-title publishing deal with Eidos Interactive

2000

Published the computer game "Timeline" through his publishing deal with Eidos Interactive

2000

Signed deal with FOX television to develop new series through Constant C Productions

2003

Richard Donner directed a feature adaptation of his novel "Timeline"

2008

A television miniseries was adapted from one of his earlier novels "The Andromeda Strain" (aired on the A&E Network)

Videos

Movie Clip

Terminal Man, The (1974) -- (Movie Clip) You've Been Given Ten Milligrams Unbridled corporate scientists, Donald Moffat as McPherson, with Richard Dysart, Michael C. Gwynne, Matt Clark as technician Gerhard and Joan Hackett as Dr. Ross, with their post-surgical patient, the title character, George Segal as psychotic computer genius Harry, delight at their ability to control his laughter, then contain his seizure, in The Terminal Man, 1974.
Terminal Man, The (1974) -- (Movie Clip) In Unfamiliar Surroundings Psychiatrist Ross (Joan Hackett) lectures an absurdly large assemblage of colleagues about her patient (George Segal as the title character, psychotic computer genius Harry Benson) before his radical brain surgery procedure, Mike Hodges directing from his script based on the Michael Crichton novel, in The Terminal Man, 1974.
Terminal Man, The (1974) -- (Movie Clip) He's Very Heavily Sedated As violent psychotic computer scientist Harry (George Segal, title character) is prepared for experimental brain surgery, one of his doctors (Michael C. Gwynne as Morris) receives unexpected visitor Angela (Jill Clayburgh, in one of her first movie roles), while a nurse (Dee Carroll) reads a disturbing report, in The Terminal Man, 1974, directed by Mike Hodges.
Terminal Man, The (1974) -- (Movie Clip) Open, Where Psycho-Surgery Is Concerned An unexplained shot of a helicopter, then photos of the title character (George Segal) and family in a forensic context, as doctor Donald Moffat, P-R man James B. Sikking and surgeon Richard Dysart converse in a rooftop L-A restaurant, opening director and screenwriter Mike Hodges’ adaptation of the Michael Crichton novel, The Terminal Man, 1974.
Coma (1978) -- (Movie Clip) I Don't Need A Shrink Maybe they had to cast Tom Selleck for sheer handsomeness, as a knee-surgery patient, when Genevieve Bujold as resident Dr. Wheeler is summoned to meet chief surgeon Harris (Richard Widmark, his first scene), after getting caught accessing confidential records, after her friend went into a coma during a routine procedure, in Coma, 1978.
Coma (1978) -- (Movie Clip) Open, It's All Politics Opening in Boston, Genevieve Bujold is surgical resident Susan Wheeler, Harvard-trained MD turned novelist Michael Crichton in his third film as a director, shooting exteriors at Boston City Hospital where he did clinical rotations, and we learn Michael Douglas as Dr. Bellows is also her love interest, in the hit medical thriller Coma, 1978.
Coma (1978) -- (Movie Clip) The Risks Of Anesthesia Michael Douglas as incoming chief-resident Dr. Bellows has sent for his colleague and live-in girlfriend (Genevieve Bujold as Dr. Wheeler) after he recognized her close friend (Lois Chiles as Nancy Greenly), now being treated for a coma following a routine abortion procedure, with some feminist overtones, in Coma. 1978.
Coma (1978) -- (Movie Clip) To Prevent Bedsores Partial SPOILER, as it’s now clear that Boston surgical resident Susan Wheeler has uncovered a conspiracy involving patients being put into comas, and she’s joined a tour (Betty McGuire the guide) at the facility where they’ve developed a cheap way to store patients, in one of the most remarked-upon scenes in director Michael Crichton’s medical thriller, Coma, 1978.
Coma (1978) -- (Movie Clip) I'm Just Her Surgeon Still remarkable scene, even moreso in 1978, where Lois Chiles is the unconscious patient getting a therapeutic abortion, but the lead actors are real doctors, Tom Borut the anesthesiologist, Philip G. Brooks the surgeon, recruited by the MD and novelist Michael Crichton, directing his third film, based on a novel by his doctor friend Robin Cook, from Coma, 1978.
Great Train Robbery, The (1979) -- (Movie Clip) Nice Pull! Agar (Donald Sutherland) is introduced snatching a purse on production designer Al Burgess and Art Director Maurice Carter's detailed recreation of London's Strand, then acosted by Pierce (Sean Connery) in The Great Train Robbery, 1979.
Great Train Robbery, The (1979) -- (Movie Clip) Tight Fitting Joints Nigh-on crude garden flirting between thief Pierce (Sean Connery) and trophy wife Emily (Pamela Salem) as her husband (Alan Webb) introduces his daughter (Gabrielle Lloyd) in Michael Crichton's The Great Train Robbery, 1979.
Great Train Robbery, The (1979) -- (Movie Clip) Monsieur Jones Thoroughly cultivated banker Henry (Malcolm Terris) is conducted by Agar (Donald Sutherland) to the boudoir of Miriam (Lesley-Anne Down), acting French at a London club, never realizing they’re both in league with his new pal Pierce (Sean Connery) and after his key, in The Great Train Robbery, 1979.

Trailer

Family

John Henderson Crichton
Father
Executive. Executive editor of "Advertising Age".
Zula Crichton
Mother
Douglas Crichton
Brother
Writer. Co-author with brother on novels under the joint pseudonym, Michael Douglas.
Taylor Anne Crichton
Daughter
Born on January 26, 1989; mother Anne-Marie Martin.

Companions

Joan Radam
Wife
Married in 1965; divorced in 1970.
Kathy St Johns
Wife
Married in 1978; divorced in 1980.
Suzanne Childs
Wife
Attorney. Divorced.
Anne-Marie Martin
Wife
Actor, screenwriter. Married in 1987; separated in late 2001; filed for a divorce in September 2002.

Bibliography

"Timeline"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1999)
"Airframe"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1996)
"The Lost World"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1995)
"Disclosure"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1994)
"Rising Sun"
Michael Crichton (1992)
"Jurassic Park"
Michael Crichton (1990)
"Travels"
Michael Crichton (1988)
"Sphere"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1987)
"Electronic Life: How to Think about Computers"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1983)
"Congo"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1981)
"Jasper Johns"
Michael Crichton, Harry N. Abrams Inc. (1977)
"Eaters of the Dead"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1976)
"The Great Train Robbery"
Michael Crichton (1975)
"Westworld"
Michael Crichton, Bantam Books (1974)
"The Terminal Man"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1972)
"Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty Brick Lost Bag Blues"
Michael Douglas, Alfred A. Knopf (1971)
"Five Patients: The Hospital Explained"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1970)
"The Andromeda Strain"
Michael Crichton, Alfred A. Knopf (1969)
"A Case of Need"
Jeffrey Hudson