Robert Harling

Born in Dothan, Alabama, Robert Harling lived in several Southern towns before his family settled in Natchitoches, Louisiana when he was twelve. Upon his graduation from Northwestern University of Louisiana and Tulane Law School, rather than take the bar exam, he opted to become an actor in New York. After years of productive work as an actor in voice-overs and commercials, Harling was inspired to write the highly acclaimed stage play, Steel Magnolias which was based on events from his family life. To this day, Steel Magnolias continues to thrive in theatrical productions in over 20 languages throughout the world.

Immediately bridging a career from stage to screen, Harling adapted his original play into the popular film of the same title which starred Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton and Daryl Hannah. The personal nature of Steel Magnolias was further enhanced when the film makers decided to shoot the movie entirely on location in Natchitoches, where the events on which the story was based took place. Over the years, Harling has become a much sought after screenwriter: other credits include Soapdish, with Kevin Kline and Robert Downey, Jr.; the highly successful First Wives Club for Paramount Pictures starring Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton; and Laws of Attraction with Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore.

Harling made his directorial debut with The Evening Star for Paramount, a sequel to Terms of Endearment, which he also wrote for the screen based on Larry McMurtry’s novel. The stellar cast was headed by Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson.

Currently, Harling is actively involved in creating new live stage projects, including writing the book for a stage musical version of Soapdish, and he is writing a play set in his Louisiana home called The Strangers Room.