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IMDbPro

Donald E. Westlake(1933-2008)

  • Writer
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Donald E. Westlake was born on 12 July 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was a writer and actor, known for The Grifters (1990), Payback (1999) and The Stepfather (2009). He was married to Abigail Adams, Sandra Foley and Nedra Henderson. He died on 31 December 2008 in San Tancho, Mexico.
BornJuly 12, 1933
DiedDecember 31, 2008(75)
BornJuly 12, 1933
DiedDecember 31, 2008(75)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar
    • 2 wins & 5 nominations total

Known for

John Cusack, Annette Bening, and Anjelica Huston in The Grifters (1990)
The Grifters
6.9
  • Writer
  • 1990
Mel Gibson in Payback (1999)
Payback
7.1
  • Writer(as Richard Stark)
  • 1999
The Stepfather (2009)
The Stepfather
5.6
  • Writer
  • 2009
Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham in Parker (2013)
Parker
6.2
  • Writer(as Richard Stark)
  • 2013

Credits

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IMDbPro

Writer



  • Too Many Crooks
    • based on the short story by
    • Pre-production
  • Play Dirty
    • based on the "Parker" book series by (as Richard Stark)
    • Completed
  • No Other Choice
    • based on the book
    • Post-production



  • Gemma Chan and André Holland in The Actor (2025)
    The Actor
    5.5
    • based on the novel "Memory" by
    • 2025
  • Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham in Parker (2013)
    Parker
    6.2
    • novel "Flashfire" (as Richard Stark)
    • 2013
  • Baby, I Got Your Money
    Short
    • novel "Somebody Owes Me Money" (uncredited)
    • 2012
  • The Stepfather (2009)
    The Stepfather
    5.6
    • earlier screenplay
    • story
    • 2009
  • 24th Street (2009)
    24th Street
    3.9
    • characters
    • 2009
  • Jean-Pierre Mocky in Myster Mocky présente (2007)
    Myster Mocky présente
    7.3
    TV Series
    • novel
    • 2007
  • Mel Gibson in Payback: Straight Up (2006)
    Payback: Straight Up
    7.4
    Video
    • novel "The Hunter" (as Richard Stark)
    • 2006
  • Alan Cumming, Claire Forlani, Barry Pepper, Jacinda Barrett, and Tom Wilkinson in Ripley Under Ground (2005)
    Ripley Under Ground
    5.9
    • screenplay
    • 2005
  • José Garcia in The Ax (2005)
    The Ax
    7.3
    • novel "The Ax"
    • 2005
  • Ordo (2004)
    Ordo
    5.4
    • novel
    • 2004
  • The Hook (2004)
    The Hook
    5.5
    • novel "The Contract"
    • 2004
  • Danny DeVito and Martin Lawrence in What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)
    What's the Worst That Could Happen?
    5.5
    • novel
    • 2001
  • A Slight Case of Murder (1999)
    A Slight Case of Murder
    6.9
    TV Movie
    • book
    • 1999
  • Mel Gibson in Payback (1999)
    Payback
    7.1
    • novel "The Hunter" (as Richard Stark)
    • 1999
  • Jimmy the Kid (1998)
    Jimmy the Kid
    5.0
    • novel
    • 1998

Actor



  • Tom Bosley and Tracy Nelson in Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery (1987)
    Father Dowling Mysteries
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Rich Vincent
    • 1991

  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Personal details

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  • Official site
    • Official Site
  • Alternative names
    • Curt Clark
  • Born
    • July 12, 1933
    • Brooklyn, New York, USA
  • Died
    • December 31, 2008
    • San Tancho, Mexico(heart attack)
  • Spouses
      Abigail AdamsMay 18, 1979 - December 31, 2008 (his death)
  • Other works
    Novel (featuring Dortmunder): "What's the Worst That Could Happen?". NOTE: Filmed as What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001).
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Biographical Movie
    • 1 Interview
    • 27 Articles

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    In his comic crime novel "Jimmy the Kid," a group of thieves stages a kidnapping using a novel by Richard Stark as the basis for their plan. "Richard Stark" is the pseudonym that he publishes dark and gritty crime novels under. In addition, Richard Stark himself appears (briefly) as a character in "Jimmy the Kid.".
  • Quotes
    If I write a novel, I'm a god. If I write a screenplay, I'm a minor deity.
  • Nicknames
    • The Neil Simon of the Crime Novel
    • Alan Marshall
    • Richard Stark
    • Tucker Coe
    • Sheldon Lord
    • Timothy J. Culver
    • Edwin West
    • John B. Allen

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