Get to know this southern-born writer, known for his snappy dialogue and strong female characters.
Playwright Robert Harling's career defining moment happened on November 5, 1989 as the play Steel Magnolias made its world premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City. Written in a span of only 10 days, Harling's life changed as this surprising smash hit took stage, and now the world by storm. Since its debut, the piece has been seen at numerous theaters across the country and reached cult status thanks to an iconic motion picture adaptation starting Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton and an all-star ensemble cast.
After graduating from Tulane Unversity Law School, Harling moved to New York City to follow his dream of becoming an actor. During his time there, he wrote the play as a way to memorialize his sister Susan who died from complications from type 1 diabetes in 1985. Afraid that his two-year-old nephew would never know who his mother was, Harling began writing her story.
Leading up to the play's premiere, Harling and the original cast of Steel Magnolias saw the story as a tragedy -- until the opening night audience began rolling with laughter. "It wasn't until audiences came in and started responding to the way the women talked and how wonderful the actresses were that we realized, I guess this is funny—until it's not," Harling recalls.
Following the success of the hit play and the iconic feature film adaptation with Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, and an all-star cast, Harling found continued success as a screenwriter (Soapdish, The First Wives Club, The Evening Star, Laws of Attraction), script doctor (Sister Act), and TV producer and creator (ABC's GCB).
Born in Dothan, Alabama, Harling grew up in several towns in the American south and, as a writer, has earned a reputation for creating strong female lead characters. On the six strong women of Steel Magnolias, who were inspired by memories of his mother's friends from childhood, Harling explains: "I always thought the women in my community were so witty and clever," he says. "It was like a witty one-upmanship [between them]. In a lot of ways, they talked in bumper stickers."
Recent projects have included writing the book for the stage musical of Soapdish and the book for a musical version of the film Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
More On Robert Harling
The Heartbreaking Real-Life Story Behind 'Steel Magnolias'
Country Living | July 28, 2017
Robert Harling: The Man Who Loves Writing Women
Entertainment Tonight | April 13, 2012
Thirty Years of Steel Magnolias
Garden & Gun | April/May 2017