David Magee's first screenplay, Finding Neverland (which he adapted from Allan Knee's play The Man Who Was Peter Pan), was made into a feature film directed by Marc Forster and starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. The screenplay earned Mr. Magee an Academy Award nomination; he was also nominated for the Humanitas Prize and the Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and BAFTA Awards, among others.
He originally studied theater directing and design. He worked for several years as an actor, performing in regional theaters across the U.S. and appearing on soap operas and performing voiceover work. During this time, he also supported himself by building sets for off-Broadway productions.
Mr. Magee's acting assignments narrating audiobooks led to an opportunity to write abridgements of novels. Over the course of five years, he wrote audio abridgements of more than 80 books by notable authors, including best-sellers from nearly every genre.
It was at a theater in East Hampton, Long Island that he wrote and performed his first play, Buying the Farm; the production was produced and directed by Nellie Bellflower, one of the producers of both Finding Neverland and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
Mr. Magee was developing a film about Kenyan naturalist and filmmaker Joan Root, for Julia Roberts and Working Title Films.
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