Lawrence Kasdan

Kasdan in 2015, photo: DFree/bigstockphoto.com

Birth Name: Lawrence Edward Kasdan

Place of Birth: Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.

Date of Birth: January 14, 1949

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Lawrence Kasdan is an American screenwriter, director, and producer. He has directed the films Body Heat, The Big Chill, Silverado, The Accidental Tourist, I Love You to Death, Grand Canyon, Wyatt Earp, French Kiss, Mumford, Dreamcatcher, and Darling Companion (also writing or co-writing all but I Love You to Death and French Kiss). He also co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi, The Bodyguard, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Lawrence is the son of Sylvia Sarah and Clarence Norman Kasdan/Kusden. His brother is screenwriter Mark Kasdan. His father was born in New Jersey, to Russian Jewish parents. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, to Polish Jewish parents. He was raised in West Virginia.

Lawrence is married to actress and writer Meg (Goldman) Kasdan, with whom he has three children, including television and film director, and actor Jake Kasdan, and screenwriter, director, producer, and actor Jonathan Kasdan.

Lawrence’s paternal grandfather was named Robert Kasdan/Kusden.

Lawrence’s paternal grandmother was named Mary.

Lawrence’s maternal grandfather was named Leonard Landau.

Lawrence’s maternal grandmother was named Anna.

Sources: https://www.newspapers.com

Lawrence’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Lawrence’s father on the 1915 New Jersey State Census – https://familysearch.org

Lawrence’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org