Background
Hedges was born in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he was raised, the son of Carole (Simpson), a psychotherapist, and the Review Robert Boyden Hedges, an Episcopalian minister.
director novelist screenwriter writer
Hedges was born in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he was raised, the son of Carole (Simpson), a psychotherapist, and the Review Robert Boyden Hedges, an Episcopalian minister.
He attended Valley High School, where he was involved in the theater department, including the improv group and the mime troupe, The Bakers Dozen. He later went to the North Carolina School of the Arts where he studied drama.
His novel What"s Eating Gilbert Grape was adapted into a critically acclaimed movie of the same title, which launched his film career. In the same year, he wrote and directed Pieces of April, starring Katie Holmes, which he dedicated to his mother. In 2007, he co-wrote and directed Dan in Real Life.
He wrote and directed The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012), a film conceived by Ahmet Zappa, produced by Zappa and Scott Sanders, and released by Walt Disney Pictures.
His latest novel The Heights was published March 4, 2010 by Dutton. They have two children, Simon and Lucas Hedges.
Lucas has an acting career, including playing Redford in Moonrise Kingdom.