Deric Washburn is an American screenwriter.
Washburn graduated from Harvard College in 1959. [1] He began his career as a playwright, penning the off-Broadway plays Ginger Anne [2] and The Love Nest. [3]
He is best known for having written the original screenplay of The Deer Hunter after having co-written the story with Michael Cimino, with whom he had previously worked on scripting the science fiction film, Silent Running in 1971. [4] The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978.
Washburn and Cimino spent three days writing the story, and then Washburn spent a month writing the script. Cimino then tried to deny him screenwriting credit. Washburn went to arbitration and was given full credit. [5]
As a member of the Actors Studio playwriting project, he received a $1500.00 award from the Edward Albee Foundation in 1964. [10]
As a writer, Washburn was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) and a WGA Award for "Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen" for The Deer Hunter , along with Quinn Redeker, Louis A. Garfinkle and Michael Cimino. [4] [11]