Grant Heslov

Personal life

Heslov was raised in the Palos Verdes area of Los Angeles County. His father, Arthur Heslov, was a dentist, and his mother, Jerrie (née Rosen), a businesswoman. He has two older brothers, Steven and Michael. Heslov is Jewish.

He attended Palos Verdes High School, then the University of Southern California . He is a member of Phi Kappa Psi.

Heslov is married to Lysa Hayland-Heslov, a producer.

Career

Heslov's acting credits include the films True Lies, Dante's Peak, Enemy of the State, The Scorpion King, Good Night and Good Luck, Congo, Black Sheep, and Catch Me If You Can. He has also appeared in such TV series as Murder, She Wrote, Happy Days, Seinfeld, Family Ties, Spencer, Mama's Family, L.A. Law, Matlock, Sleeper Cell and The X-Files.

In 2001, he joined Section Eight Productions as director of development, and then he became head of the television division when they started its business in 2003.

In August 2006, Heslov and George Clooney started Smokehouse Pictures and began writing screenplays for production. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (with Clooney) and as producer for Best Film for Good Night, and Good Luck. Clooney and Heslov also won the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay for the film. Heslov also appears in the film as Don Hewitt, the director of the TV series See It Now, around which the movie is centered. He directed a screen adaptation of The Men Who Stare at Goats, starring Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, and Kevin Spacey and co-produced The American starring Clooney in 2012. He also worked on 2011's The Ides of March. In June 2012, he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In 2013, Heslov, alongside Clooney and Ben Affleck, won the Academy Award for Best Picture for Argo (2012). The three also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama and the BAFTA Award for Best Film.

Heslov directed the first and fifth episodes of the 2019 miniseries Catch-22, on which he was also executive producer.

In 2024, it was announced Heslov and George Clooney will co-write and Clooney will star in Good Night, and Good Luck, a Broadway adaptation of the film Good Night, and Good Luck.

Filmography

Executive producer

• Playground (2009) (Documentary)
• The Art of Political Murder (2020) (Documentary)
• Ticket to Paradise (2022)
• How to Build a Truth Engine (2023) (Documentary)

Acting roles

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "It all started when...". Our Founder.
2. (13 February 2014). "Grant Heslov: 'It's great to have Clooney there to crack the whip'". [[The Guardian]].
3. Abramowitz, Rachel. (November 7, 2009). "Grant Heslov, George Clooney team up for 'The Men Who Stare at Goats'". Los Angeles Times.
4. (February 19, 2013). "Jews in the News: Oscar Time!". Tampa Jewish Federation.
5. "Alumni". USC School of Dramatic Arts.
6. (April 1982). "Southern California". Phi Kappa Psi.
7. (2004-02-19). "'Nobody's Perfect' Screening In Los Angeles Photos and Images". Getty Images.
8. Fleming, Michael. (2001-09-28). "WB still crazy for Section 8".
9. Schneider, Michael. (2003-07-31). "Section Eight musters deal with WBTV".
10. (2005-09-12). "Ang Lee wins Golden Lion at Venice".
11. (June 29, 2012). "Academy Invites 176 to Membership". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
12. Culwell-Block, Logan. (May 13, 2024). "George Clooney Will Star in Broadway Adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck".
13. Quinn, Dave. (February 19, 2025). "George Clooney Admits Memorizing His Lines for Broadway's Good Night, and Good Luck Is 'a Nightmare': 'I'm Scared!'".
14. "Grant Heslov (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors.