Galati had a long career in the movie and theatre industries (Picture: Getty Images)
The Oscar-nominated screenwriter of classic film The Accidental Tourist and distinguished Broadway director, Frank Galati, has died aged 79, it has been reported.
Galati penned the adaptation of the Pulitzer prize-winning Anne Tyler novel along with Lawrence Kasdan, 73. It was also nominated for the Bafta for Best Adapted Screenplay.
The movie starred William Hurt as a travel writer whose life and marriage has been shattered by the tragic death of his son and also starred Hollywood icons Kathleen Turner and Geena Davis.
Galati, who directed many productions on Broadway including the musical Ragtime and 2007’s The Pirate Queen, died on Monday night. A cause of death has not yet been announced.
As well as being an associate director at Chicago’s Goodman theatre from 1986 to 2008, Galati was a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company since 1985.
Steppenwolf’s co-artistic directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis said in a statement to Deadline: ‘Frank had a profound impact on Steppenwolf, and all of us, over the years.
Galati with Mary Zimmerman for the San Francisco production of After The Quake in 2007 (Picture: Getty Images)
‘For some, he was a teacher, mentor, director, adaptor, writer, fellow actor, and visionary. Regardless of the relationship, Frank always made others feel cared for, valued, and inspired in his ever-generous, joyful and compassionate presence.’
Meanwhile, on Twitter, the American Conservatory Theatre paid tribute to Galati and wrote: ‘We’re saddened to hear that Frank Galati has passed away.
‘A towering figure in the field and joyous light, Frank was with us last directing RHINOCEROS in our 2018/19 season. We’re sending our love to Frank’s friends and family today.
Kathleen Turner, William Hurt and Geena Davis in The Accidental Tourist (Picture: Moviestore/Shutterstock)
Galati won a Tony Award in 1989 for his stage adaptation of Grapes Of Wrath (Picture: Broadway)
On the stage, Galati directed an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, which won the Tony Award for Best Play and for Best Direction of a Play.
Following the production’s success, Galati went on to adapt As I Lay Dying in 1995 and Haruki Murakami’s After the Quake in 2005.
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He also directed musical The Visit and most recently helmed Knoxville, which was based on Pulitzer Prize-winning book A Death in the Family by James Agee and Pulitzer Prize-winning play All the Way Home by Tad Mosel.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
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Galati was a distinguished director and screenwriter.
