Gill Dennis obit

 

Gill Dennis, ‘Walk the Line’ Screenwriter, Dies at 74

He was not on the list.

Gill Dennis, who co-penned the screenplay for the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line,” has died. He was 74.

Dennis died in his Portland, Ore. home, according to the American Film Institute. AFI was unable to confirm the date of his passing at this time.

Dennis also wrote the screenplays for Walter Murch’s “Return to Oz” (1985) and Judy Davis’ drama “On My Own” (1991), in addition to penning and directing Angelina Jolie’s thriller “Without Evidence” (1995) and the 1973 film “Intermission.” On the TV front, he did the teleplay for the 1996 TNT Western “Riders of the Purple Sage” and wrote the Showtime miniseries “Home Fires.”

Dennis was a 1969 graduate of the AFI Conservatory’s first class, which also included Terrence Malick, David Lynch and Caleb Deschanel. He returned to AFI in 1997 as a master filmmaker-in-residence and taught the incoming class this past September. His students took to Twitter to express their grief.

Dennis was once married to actress Elizabeth Hartman, who committed suicide in 1987, a few years after their divorce.

He is survived his wife, Kristen Peckinpah Dennis, and two sons.

Dennis spoke about collaborating when writing screenplays before a screening of “Walk the Line” at the AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Md. He co-wrote the film, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, with director James Mangold.

 

Writer

Forever (2015)

Forever

5.4

written by

2015

 

Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line (2005)

Walk the Line

7.8

written by

2005

 

The Man on Lincoln's Nose (2000)

The Man on Lincoln's Nose

8.5

Short

Writer

2000

 

Ed Harris and Amy Madigan in Riders of the Purple Sage (1996)

Riders of the Purple Sage

6.2

TV Movie

teleplay

1996

 

Without Evidence (1995)

Without Evidence

4.0

written by

1995

 

On My Own (1991)

On My Own

6.3

story

writer

1991

 

Home Fires (1987)

Home Fires

7.1

TV Movie

Writer

1987

 

Fairuza Balk in Return to Oz (1985)

Return to Oz

6.7

screenplay

1985

 

Intermission

Writer

1973

 

Actor

Forever (2015)

Forever

5.4

Wayne

2015

 

Last September (2008)

Last September

8.0

Mitchell's Father

2008

 

The Ranch (2007)

The Ranch

Short

Neil Harris

2007

 

The GoodTimesKid (2005)

The GoodTimesKid

6.3

Sergeant

2005

 

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985)

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

7.7

TV Series

Dr. Leon Borofsky

1985

1 episode

 

Jack Nance in Eraserhead (1977)

Eraserhead

7.3

Man with Cigar

1977

 

Director

Without Evidence (1995)

Without Evidence

4.0

Director

1995

 

Intermission

Director

1973