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More Peter Chelsom Bios & Profiles

 

The most recent Peter Chelsom biography is published on the main page.
 


Biography #2 (for The Mighty)

One of Britain's most outstanding and original writer/directors, Peter Chelsom made his feature film directorial debut on the universally acclaimed Hear My Song, starring Ned Beatty and Adrian Dunbar, distributed by Miramax. Chelsom, who also wrote the screenplay, was inspired by the life of a charismatic Irish tenor, who after mysteriously disappearing in the late fifties, was secretly replaced by an impostor, who passed himself off as the great man for 30 years. The romantic comedy won Best Film at the 1992 British Comedy Awards, Best British Newcomer in 1993 from the London Film Critics Circle, Best Newcomer from the Evening Standard British Film Awards and a BAFTA (British Oscar) nomination for Best Original Screenplay in addition to invitations from film festivals worldwide.

Chelsom's second feature, Hollywood Pictures' Funny Bones, starring Oliver Platt, Jerry Lewis and Leslie Caron, received rave reviews and won Best Film at five European film festivals, the 1996 Peter Sellars Award for Comedy from the Evening Standard British Film Awards and Chelsom's second BAFTA nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Bigger, richer and darker than the first, Funny Bones tells the story of two half brothers, one American and the other British, who will stop at nothing to get a laugh, even murder.

Born in Blackpool in the north of England, Chelsom trained as a photographer before winning a place at London's Central School of Drama, where he studied for three years. He subsequently worked as an actor for the next 10 years, playing leading roles in television series, films and on stage for the prestigious the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theater. At the height of his acting career, he decided to turn to writing and directing.

He honed his directorial skills on more than 60 commercials, many of which also won awards. His first short, Treacle, earned a BAFTA nomination and was selected at festivals around the world including New York and London.

Chelsom relocated to Los Angeles in 1995.

Bio courtesy Miramax for "The Mighty" (31-Aug-2002)