Gary De Vore
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
One of Hollywood's mysteries was solved on July 8, 1998 when the body of screenwriter Gary DeVore was discovered at the bottom of the California Aqueduct in the Antelope Valley near Palmdale, CA. DeVore, who had penned hit films such as "Raw Deal" and "Running Scared" (both 1986) had been missing since June 28, 1997 when he last spoke to his wife from his car phone while driving from Santa Fe, NM to their home in Carpenteria, CA. His body was discovered through the efforts of an amateur detective from San Diego who read about the disappearance and noted the similarities between it and the disappearance of a woman who was later found to have run off the road into the California Aqueduct. While DeVore was missing, many theories about his whereabouts emerged, including ideas that he had been carjacked for his fully equipped late model Ford Explorer or even that he was on a secret CIA mission. The screenwriter was visiting friend Marsha Mason's Santa Fe ranch before his disappearance, where he was working on the script for a remake of 1949's "The Big Steal," which was to have marked his feature directorial debut.
DeVore's first big screenwriting credit was for the "The Dogs of War" (1980), starring Tom Berenger and Christopher Walken. Many of his screenplays were action based, including the Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle "Raw Deal" and 1995's "Pentathalon." Mixing action and comedy, he had a hit with "Running Scared," which teamed Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines. The formula was less successful for "Traxx" (1988), starring one-time girlfriend Priscilla Barnes. DeVore also wrote the screenplay for the romantic comedy "Back Roads" (1981), starring Sally Field and longtime friend Tommy Lee Jones. For the small screen, he penned the script for and served as executive producer of "Heart of Steel" (ABC, 1983), a vehicle for Peter Strauss, and "The Heat," the 1989 action adventure "CBS Summer Playhouse" special about a group of young crime fighters. DeVore had also finished the screenplay for "Solo" a spy thriller which Harold Becker was attached to direct.
Filmography
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Writer (Special)
Producer (Special)
Special Thanks (Special)
Life Events
1980
Wrote "The Dogs of War", an adventure film starring Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger
1981
Scripted the romantic comedy "Back Roads" starring Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones
1983
Was executive producer and screenwriter of the ABC TV-movie "Heart of Steel", starring Peter Strauss.
1986
Wrote the screenplay for the Arnold Schwarzenegger action film "Raw Deal"
1986
Scripted the comedy action film "Running Scared"
1988
Wrote and produced the comedy adventure film "Traxx"
1989
Executive produced and scripted "The Heat", aired as a "CBS Summer Playhouse Special"
1991
Declared bankruptcy after the Internal Revenue Service hit him for back taxes on a residence purchased during his marriage to Maria Cole; later sued Cole family but case was dismissed
1995
Wrote the action adventure "Pentathalon"
1997
Was set to write and direct a remake of the 1949 Robert Mitchum action film "The Big Steal"
1997
Disappeared while driving from Santa Fe, New Mexico to his home in Santa Barbara County, California
1998
Body was discovered after a year at the bottom of the California Aqueduct, where his car landed after apparently running off the road
Companions
