Carole Eastman

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Carole Eastman
BornFebruary 19, 1934
Glendale, California, United States
DiedFebruary 13, 2004(2004-02-13) (aged 69)
Other namesAdrien Joyce
A.L. Appling
OccupationScreenwriter
RelativesCharles K. Eastman

Carole Eastman (February 19, 1934 – February 13, 2004) was an American actress and screenwriter. Among her credits are screenplays for Monte Hellman's The Shooting (1967), Bob Rafelson's Five Easy Pieces (1970)[1] (for which she was nominated for an Academy Award along with co-writer Rafelson), and Mike Nichols’s The Fortune (1975). She occasionally used the pseudonyms Adrien Joyce and A.L. Appling.

Early life

Carole Joyce[2] Eastman was born February 19, 1934,[3] in Glendale, California to a mother once who was a secretary for Bing Crosby, and a father worked as a grip for Warner Brothers.[2] Her uncle was a film cameraman.[2] Eastman attended Hollywood High School[2] and studied ballet with choreographer Eugene Loring.[2] Eastman was expelled from High School for truancy in favor of dance.[2] After high school, breaking her foot ended her dance career.[2]

Career

Her brother, Charles K. Eastman, cast her in his play, leading to an agent contract. Eastman studied acting from Jeff Corey, befriending Jack Nicholson, a classmate.[2] Her friend, Monte Hellman,[2] asked Eastman to write a screenplay for The Shooting, that starred Nicholson. Her next films, Five Easy Pieces, The Fortune, Man Trouble, starred Nicholson. Puzzle of a Downfall Child starred Faye Dunaway.

Personal life

Eastman suffered from Epstein-Barr virus for six years and died on February 13, 2004.[2] University of Texas has archived some of Eastmans papers.[4]

"an absolutely great vision about the foibles of people and a very idiosyncratic sense of humor"[2] - Jack Nicholson

Filmography

References

  1. Greenspun, Roger (September 12, 1970). "FIVE EASY PIECES". The New York Times.
  2. "Carole Eastman". EBSCO. Archived from the original on 2025-12-24. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  3. "Carole Joyce Eastman — Born 1934, Los Angeles County, California". California Birth Index. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  4. Stanton, Chris (7 April 2022). "It's Time to Reframe the Legacy of 70s Screenwriter Carole Eastman". Literary Hub. Retrieved 1 June 2026.