Peter John Farrelly (born December 17, 1956) is an American film
director, screenwriter, producer and novelist. Along with his brother
Bobby, the Farrelly brothers are mostly famous for directing and
producing quirky comedy and romantic comedy films such as Dumb and
Dumber; Shallow Hal; Me, Myself and Irene; There's Something About
Mary; and the 2007 remake of The Heartbreak Kid. On his own in 2018
Farrelly co-wrote and directed the comedy-drama Green Book, which won
the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival in 2018. For his work
on the film, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay and
earned the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Original
Screenplay.Farrelly was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, to Mariann
(Neary), a nurse practitioner, and Robert Leo Farrelly, a doctor. His
grandparents were Irish immigrants. He was raised in Cumberland, Rhode
Island. He graduated from Kent School in 1975 and from Providence
College where he studied business. In 1986 he earned a master's in
fine arts from Columbia University.Farrelly decided to pursue writing
full-time, which prompted him to quit his job and relocate to Cape
Cod, Massachusetts, where he got a job as a waiter. On one of the
tables he was waiting, Farrelly struck up a conversation with a
writing professor from UMass Amherst, who encouraged Farrelly to apply
to graduate school. Farrelly said he did not think his chances were
good, considering he did poorly in college but the professor said not
everything is judged by grades. With what would later be Outside
Providence, Farrelly submitted the work and was pleasantly surprised
that he was accepted. He studied writing for a time at UMass Amherst,
but was ultimately dissatisfied with the program, and transferred to
Columbia University in New York City, which Farrelly said he found
very satisfying. He later became interested in screenwriting, which
led him to directing. He made this career decision after many of his
screenplays sold but were not produced.
director, screenwriter, producer and novelist. Along with his brother
Bobby, the Farrelly brothers are mostly famous for directing and
producing quirky comedy and romantic comedy films such as Dumb and
Dumber; Shallow Hal; Me, Myself and Irene; There's Something About
Mary; and the 2007 remake of The Heartbreak Kid. On his own in 2018
Farrelly co-wrote and directed the comedy-drama Green Book, which won
the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival in 2018. For his work
on the film, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay and
earned the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Original
Screenplay.Farrelly was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, to Mariann
(Neary), a nurse practitioner, and Robert Leo Farrelly, a doctor. His
grandparents were Irish immigrants. He was raised in Cumberland, Rhode
Island. He graduated from Kent School in 1975 and from Providence
College where he studied business. In 1986 he earned a master's in
fine arts from Columbia University.Farrelly decided to pursue writing
full-time, which prompted him to quit his job and relocate to Cape
Cod, Massachusetts, where he got a job as a waiter. On one of the
tables he was waiting, Farrelly struck up a conversation with a
writing professor from UMass Amherst, who encouraged Farrelly to apply
to graduate school. Farrelly said he did not think his chances were
good, considering he did poorly in college but the professor said not
everything is judged by grades. With what would later be Outside
Providence, Farrelly submitted the work and was pleasantly surprised
that he was accepted. He studied writing for a time at UMass Amherst,
but was ultimately dissatisfied with the program, and transferred to
Columbia University in New York City, which Farrelly said he found
very satisfying. He later became interested in screenwriting, which
led him to directing. He made this career decision after many of his
screenplays sold but were not produced.
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