Little do readers know that the authors of their favorite novels and novellas are also Hollywood stars. Ever since film was invented as a medium, filmmakers have made their favorite books into Academy award and film festival winners or Netflix and box office sensations.
Some authors have even appeared in the big screen adaptations of their work. Here we’ll look at authors who starred in movies based on their books.
The 10 authors who took starring roles in film adaptations of their books
Here are the top ten authors who’ve taken roles in the film adaptation of their books.
Stephen King – Carrie and The Shining
Stephen King had minor roles in both Carrie (1976) and The Shining (1980).
Carrie is about a teenage girl who’s been sheltered by her religious mother. After being humiliated at a high school prom, she unleashes telekinetic powers on the pupils who ridiculed her.
The Shining, on the other hand, is a horror film about a family staying in an isolated hotel during the winter.
Stephanie Meyer – Twilight
Best known for the Twilight series, Stephanie Meyer is a film producer and novelist. This American coming-of-age vampire saga charts the development of Bella and Edward’s relationship.
If you’ve read the book and watched the movie, you’ll have spotted some differences. For instance, in the book, Bella dares Edward to eat human flesh for the first time. But this isn’t mentioned in the movie at all. And you might’ve also noticed creator Stephanie Meyer’s cameo roles.
Sleepless in Seattle – Calvin Trillin
Calvin Trillin is a famous author, screenwriter, and actor. Besides Michael (1996), That Was The Week That Was (1963), one of his best works is the Oscar-nominated Sleepless in Seattle, a romantic comedy from 1993 starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. He even had a small role in the movie as Uncle Milton.
Stan Lee – Multiple
Stan Lee has had numerous cameo appearances, from video games, miniseries, TV shows, TV series, and Marvel movies. Here are the best movies and other adaptations Stan Lee has featured in.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Iron Man (2008) – Lee appears at a gala with three blonde ladies.
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – Lee plays a World War II general.
- Doctor Strange (2016) – Lee appears as a bus rider.
- Avengers Endgame (2019) – Lee appears as a car driver in the 1970s.
T.V.
- Agents of SHIELD (2014) – Lee appears as a kindly old man.
- Disney+ series – WandaVision (2021) – There is a license plate number with Lee’s birth date.
- Hulu T.V. series Runaways – Lee appears as a limo driver.
Non-MCU Films
- X-Men (2000) – Lee appears as a hot dog stand vendor.
- Deadpool (2016) – Lee works as an MC at a strip club.
- Deadpool (2018) – Lee appears in graffiti art.
Other Films
- The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989) – appears as a jury foreman.
- Man-Thing (2005) – a photo of Lee as a missing person.
- Big Hero 6 (2014) – the voice and likeliness is used to portray the Fred character.
Lee Child – Jack Reacher
Jack Reacher is a series of novels and short stories written by Lee Child (the pen name of Jim Grant). In the movie Jack Reacher (Paramount), the titular character, an ex-military policeman and drifter, is in pursuit of a sniper who attempted to assassinate of the President of France.
Maya Angelou – Poetic Justice
Poetic Justice is a romantic drama from 1993. The film is about a hairdresser Justice, played by Janet Jackson, mourning the death of her ex-boyfriend. To deal with her pain and loss, she writes poetry.
In this movie adaptation, Maya Angelou, who plays Aunt June, wrote the poetry and source material in real life that is credited to Justice’s character.
Johnathan Safran Foer – Everything is Illuminated
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Soer was published in 2002 and made into a movie in 2005. This biographical comedy-drama is about a young Jewish American man on a quest to find a woman who saved his grandfather in WWII.
Michael Morpurgo – War Horse
Based on a true story, War Horse is a famous British war novel written by Michael Morpurgo. The book was published in 1982 and adapted to the big screen in 2011.
Kathryn Stockett – The Help
The Help (2009) is a fictional novel by Kathryn Stockett that was made into a movie in 2011. The movie is set in the 1960s during the Civil Rights movement and told from the perspective of a black maid.
Hunter S. Thompson – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a comedy-adventure film. Before it reached the big screens, it was a novel about a famous journalistic style called Gonzo created by author Hunter S. Thompson. The movie follows a reporter and his drug-crazed lawyer in search of the American Dream.
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FAQ
What author has the most movies made from their books?
Stephen King takes the first place for the number of books that have been made into movies – 34. The first novel that was made into a movie was Carrie in 1976, (the remake was released in 2017).
Similar to other horror authors like Clive Barker, Stephen King has also written numerous screenplays over the last 40 years.
Which novelist has all 3 of her books adapted for the screen?
Three of Jane Austen’s most notable works of literature (Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion) have been adapted to the big screen and made into incredible love stories.
What is it called when a movie is based on a book?
When a movie is based on a book, it’s called a film adaptation.
Do authors make money from movies based on their books?
A common misconception is that authors who write long or short stories that turn into movies are wealthy. This all depends on the sale of screen rights. The writer gets around 2.5% of the gross takings.
What is the name of the book adaptation movie starring Emma Watson and Logan Lerman?
The famous film The Perks of Being a Wallflower stars Emma Watson (of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter fame) and Logan Lerman.
Which author’s book was adapted into a movie before it was published?
Before a book is adapted into a movie, the producer has to obtain permission from the copyright owner.
What is the name of the author who wrote “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility”?
Jane Austen is the author behind both Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.