Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of BirthFebruary 8, 1955
SpouseRenee Jones
MarkWrites novels about main characters that are from the Southeastern United States
FactJohn, Renee, and their children have lived in Charlottesville, VA for the past several years. Technically he does still own the house in Oxford, but they haven't really lived in it even before the tacky "manufactured housing" community formed right next door.
PaymentsEarned $3,750,000 from The Chamber (1996)


John Grisham is an American novelist, attorney, politician, and activist, best known for his popular legal thrillers. His books have been translated into 42 languages and sold over 300 million copies worldwide. Grisham was born on February 8, 1955, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Wanda (née Skidmore) and John Ray Grisham. His father worked as a construction worker and his mother was a homemaker. He has two older brothers, Wesley and Daniel. Grisham was raised in Southaven, Mississippi, and attended DeSoto Central High School. He played football and baseball and ran track. In high school, he was elected student body president. After graduating from high school in 1973, he attended Northwest Mississippi Community College and the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Grisham worked as a lawyer in private practice for 10 years before turning to writing full-time. His first novel, A Time to Kill, was published in 1989 and became a bestseller. It was adapted into a 1996 film of the same name starring Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock. His other novels include The Firm (1991), The Pelican Brief (1992), The Client (1993), The Chamber (1994), The Rainmaker (1995), The Runaway Jury (1996), The Partner (1997), The Street Lawyer (1998), The Testament (1999), The Brethren (2000), A Painted House (2001), Skipping Christmas (2001), The Summons (2002), The King of Torts (2003), Bleachers (2003), The Last Juror (2004), The Broker (2005), Playing for Pizza (2007), The Appeal (2008), The Associate (2009), Ford County (2009), Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (2010), Theodore Boone: The Abduction (2010), Theodore Boone: The Accused (2011), Theodore Boone: The Fugitive (2012), Sycamore Row (2013), Gray Mountain (2014), Rogue Lawyer (2015), and Camino Island (2017).

Grisham has also written several non-fiction books, including The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town (2006) and An Innocent Client (2017).

Grisham is a member of the Democratic Party and has served in the Mississippi House of Representatives since January 2004. He has also been active in philanthropy, donating over $5 million to various charities.

Grisham is married to Renee Jones Grisham and they have two children together, Ty and Shea.

General Info

Full NameJohn Grisham
Date Of BirthFebruary 8, 1955
ProfessionScreenwriter, Television producer, Politician, Lawyer, Film producer, Author, Novelist, Actor
EducationMississippi State University, Southaven High School, University of Mississippi, Northwest Mississippi Community College, Delta State University
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseRenee Jones
ChildrenShea Grisham, Ty Grisham
ParentsJohn Grisham, Wanda Skidmore Grisham
SiblingsMark Grisham, Kevin Grisham

Accomplishments

AwardsHelmerich Award
NominationsGoodreads Choice Awards Best Mystery & Thriller, USC Scripter Award
MoviesThe Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, A Time to Kill, The Chamber, The Rainmaker, The Gingerbread Man, Runaway Jury, The Street Lawyer, Mickey, Christmas with the Kranks
TV ShowsThe Firm, The Client

Social profile links

Marks

#Marks / Signs
1Writes novels that are usually based around the justice system
2Writes novels about main characters that are from the Southeastern United States

Salary

TitleSalary
Runaway Jury (2003)$8,000,000
The Chamber (1996)$3,750,000
A Time to Kill (1996)$6,000,000
The Firm (1993)$100,000

Quotes

#Quote
1I grew up in a very small, close-knit, Southern Baptist family, where everything was off-limits. So I couldn't wait to get to college and have some fun. And I did for the first two years. And I regret a lot of it, because my grades were in terrible shape. I never got in serious trouble, except for my grades.

Facts

#Fact
1John, Renee, and their children have lived in Charlottesville, VA for the past several years. Technically he does still own the house in Oxford, but they haven't really lived in it even before the tacky "manufactured housing" community formed right next door.
2It takes him six months to write a novel.
3His first novel 'A Time To Kill' took three years to complete and was rejected by 28 publishers.
4Did not start writing until he was 29 years old.
5Does not participate in the screen adaptations of his novels after the movie rights have been secured.
6Is totally opposed to the concept of cameras in courtrooms.
7According to his publisher Doubleday, as of 2008 his books have sold over 235 million copies worldwide.
8Donated $5 million after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and Mississippi.
9Lifelong Democrat. Endorsed Hillary Clinton for President.
10In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his earnings for the year at $9 million.
11Credits Brian Garfield's article "Ten Rules For Suspense Fiction" with giving him the tools to create "The Firm.".
12Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, Vol. 133, pp. 234-241. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.
13Has casting approval rights for movies based on his novels.
14Has sold 60,742,288 copies of his books, making him the best-selling author of the 1990s.
15Coaches little league baseball.
16Was a lawyer before becoming a writer.
17Received bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University

Pictures

Movies

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Firm2012TV Series novel - 22 episodes
Christmas with the Kranks2004novel "Skipping Christmas"
Mickey2004
The Street Lawyer2003TV Movie characters
Runaway Jury2003novel "The Runaway Jury"
A Painted House2003TV Movie novel
The Gingerbread Man1998story
The Rainmaker1997novel
The Chamber1996novel
A Time to Kill1996novel "A Time To Kill"
The Client1995-1996TV Series characters from novel - 21 episodes
The Client1994novel
The Pelican Brief1993book
The Firm1993novel

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Street Lawyer2003TV Movie executive producer
A Time to Kill1996producer
The RainmakerTV Series executive producer announced
The Firm2012TV Series executive producer - 22 episodes
Mickey2004producer

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mickey2004Commissioner
A Painted House2003TV MovieNarrator (voice, uncredited)

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
CBS This Morning2015-2016TV SeriesHimself - Author / Himself - Novelist
Today2007-2014TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Guest
Charlie Rose2006-2013TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The Colbert Report2007-2012TV SeriesHimself - Guest / Himself
Piers Morgan Tonight2011TV SeriesHimself
Hot Coffee2011DocumentaryHimself
The One Show2010TV SeriesHimself
Bill Moyers' Journal2008TV Series documentaryHimself
Forbes Celebrity 100: Who Made Bank?2006TV MovieHimself
Mississippi Rising2005TV Movie documentaryHimself
The Culture Show2005TV Series documentaryHimself
The Daily Show2005TV SeriesHimself
Waking in Mississippi1998DocumentaryHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Bloomberg Game Changers2011TV Series documentaryHimself - Author
Francis Ford Coppola Directs 'John Grisham's The Rainmaker'2007Video documentary shortHimself

Awards

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2012Golden NymphMonte-Carlo TV FestivalOutstanding International Producer (Drama Series)The Firm (2012)
2004EdgarEdgar Allan Poe AwardsBest Motion Picture ScreenplayRunaway Jury (2003)
1998USC Scripter AwardUSC Scripter AwardThe Rainmaker (1997)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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