Jeremy Larner, Oscar-Winning Screenwriter of Robert Redford’s ‘The Candidate,’ Passes Away at 88

Jeremy Larner, the Oscar-winning screenwriter known for his work on the 1972 film The Candidate, has passed away at the age of 88. Larner, whose background as a speechwriter for Eugene McCarthy during the 1968 presidential campaign influenced his acclaimed screenplay, died on February 24 in a nursing facility in Oakland, California, as confirmed by his son, Jesse Larner.

Early Life and Career

Born on March 20, 1937, in Indianapolis, Larner excelled in academics and athletics, winning the city’s high school tennis championship while attending Shortridge High School. He graduated from Brandeis University in 1958, where he studied alongside future activist Abbie Hoffman. Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued graduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, on a Woodrow Wilson fellowship.

Larner relocated to New York at the age of 22, where he worked as a freelance journalist for notable publications including Life, The New Republic, and Harper’s. During this period, he authored two novels and three nonfiction books, including Poverty: Views From the Left and Drive, He Said.

Political Involvement and Screenwriting

In March 1968, Larner joined McCarthy’s campaign, which aimed to end U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Despite McCarthy’s initial momentum, the nomination ultimately went to Vice President Hubert Humphrey after President Lyndon Johnson withdrew from the race and Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated.

After writing Nobody Knows: Reflections on the McCarthy Campaign of 1968, which gained traction when serialized in Harper’s, Larner was approached by Robert Redford and director Michael Ritchie to write the screenplay for The Candidate.

In the film, Redford portrays Bill McKay, a poverty lawyer and son of a powerful governor, who is unexpectedly groomed for a Senate run against Republican incumbent Crocker Jarman. The narrative explores themes of political authenticity and the dissonance between public persona and personal identity.

Crafting The Candidate

Larner’s experience with McCarthy informed his writing process. He conveyed that writing speeches for McCarthy allowed him to observe the impact of words on public sentiment. He likened a political campaign to drifting downriver, where one can lose themselves amidst the chaos of public perception.

In a reflection on his collaboration with Redford and Ritchie, Larner noted that they had specific ideas about the film’s direction and ending. He expressed his initial apprehension during their first meeting, fearing he might lose the opportunity by comparing politicians to movie stars who can lose themselves in their roles.

Larner’s screenplay was characterized by its sharp dialogue and incisive commentary on political life. He spent two weeks crafting the script, working long hours to produce a draft that would later undergo constant revisions during filming.

Legacy and Later Work

Larner’s work on The Candidate earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1973. During his acceptance speech, he acknowledged the political figures who inspired him, suggesting that their actions would continue to shape compelling narratives in cinema.

Despite writing approximately a dozen screenplays afterward, Larner did not receive another onscreen credit. He expressed disappointment that many of his subsequent works, which he believed were superior to The Candidate, never made it to production. These included drafts for North Dallas Forty and an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Victory.

Larner remained active in various capacities, including writing environmental speeches for Redford and engaging with college audiences. He also published Chicken on Church & Other Poems in 2006.

Personal Life

Larner is survived by his sons, Jesse and Zachary, and his brother, Daniel. He was married to Susan Berlin, a fellow Brandeis classmate, from 1960 until their divorce in 1968.

Throughout his career, Larner faced challenges in conveying his vision for The Candidate, often finding himself explaining his script to those involved in the production. He noted that while Redford and Ritchie understood the essence of the film, he frequently had to clarify how the scenes fit together.

The concept for The Candidate predated the script, with Larner envisioning McKay as a character caught in an unexpected political journey, paralleling his own surprise at winning an Oscar.

As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.

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Published on 2026-03-07 08:01:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk