Kenneth Lonergan

Kenneth Lonergan
Lonergan in Vienna, 2016
Born	(1962-10-16) October 16, 1962 (age 54) The Bronx, New York City, New York
Occupation	Playwright, screenwriter, director
Alma mater	Wesleyan University New York University (NYU)
Notable works	You Can Count On Me (2000) Gangs of New York (2002) Margaret (2011) Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Notable awards	Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay NSFC – Best Screenplay NYFCC – Best Screenplay 2000 You Can Count On Me
Spouse	J. Smith-Cameron (2000—present)
Children	1

Kenneth Lonergan (born October 16, 1962) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for writing Gangs of New York (2002) and for writing and directing Manchester by the Sea (2016). He earned an Academy Award for Best Director nomination for Manchester by the Sea, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for You Can Count on Me, Gangs of New York and Manchester by the Sea, winning the Oscar for the latter at the 89th Academy Awards. He also won the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay for Manchester by the Sea at the 70th British Academy Film Awards.

Lonergan was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, to a psychiatrist mother and physician father. His mother is Jewish, and his father was of Irish descent. Lonergan began writing in high school at the Walden School (a now defunct, highly progressive private school in Manhattan with a strong drama program).

His first play, The Rennings Children, was chosen for the Stephen Sondheim-founded Young Playwrights Inc. Young Playwright's Festival in 1982 while he was still an undergraduate. Lonergan matriculated to Wesleyan University where he trained as a playwright and director; he would go on to graduate at the NYU Playwriting Program.

After graduating from NYU, Lonergan worked as a speechwriter for the Environmental Protection Agency. He also wrote industrial shows—long-play commercials—for clients such as Weight Watchers and Fujifilm.