Stephen Chbosky

Stephen Chbosky (; born January 25, 1970) is an American film director, screenwriter, and author. He is best known for writing the bestselling coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and writing and directing its 2012 film adaptation. He also directed the drama Wonder (2017) and the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. His first psychological horror novel, Imaginary Friend, was published in October 2019.

Early life Chbosky was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was raised the suburb of Upper St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Lea (née Meyer), a tax preparer, and Fred G. Chbosky, a steel company executive and consultant to CFOs. Chbosky has a sister, Stacy, who is married to director John Erick Dowdle. He was raised Catholic. As a teenager, Chbosky "enjoyed a good blend of the classics, horror, and fantasy." He was heavily influenced by J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye and the writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Tennessee Williams.

Career In 1992, Chbosky graduated from the University of Southern California's Filmic Writing, screenwriting program. He wrote, directed, and acted in the 1995 independent film The Four Corners of Nowhere, which gained Chbosky his first agent. It also was accepted by the Sundance Film Festival, and became one of the first films shown on the Sundance Channel.

In 1994, Chbosky was working on a "very different type of book" than The Perks of Being a Wallflower when he wrote the line, "I guess that's just one of the perks of being a wallflower." As of May 2013, the number of copies in print reached over two million. Wallflower also stirred up controversy due to Chbosky's portrayal of teen sexuality and drug use. The book has been removed from circulation in several schools and appeared on the American Library Association's 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2022 and 2023 lists of the 10 most frequently challenged books. In July 2013, The Perks of Being a Wallflower had spent over a year on the New York Times Bestseller list, and was published in 31 languages.

In 2000, Chbosky edited Pieces, an anthology of short stories. The same year, he worked with director Jon Sherman on a film adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Chbosky wrote the screenplay for the 2005 film adaptation of the Broadway rock musical Rent, which received mixed reviews. In late 2005, Chbosky said that he was writing a film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. A grassroots campaign to revive the series convinced CBS to renew the series for a second season, which premiered on February 12, 2008, before being canceled once more in March 2008.

Chbosky wrote the screenplay of and directed the film The Perks of Being a Wallflower, based on his novel. Production took place in mid-2011, and the film was released in fall 2012. The film starred Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. Chbosky was nominated in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for the 2013 Writers Guild Awards, and the film won the 2013 Independent Spirit Awards for Best First Feature, as well as the 2013 People's Choice Award for Best Dramatic Movie.

Chbosky re-wrote Evan Spiliotopoulos original script for the 2017 live action reboot of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, directed by Bill Condon and starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast. Chbosky and Watson developed a close relationship during the production of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The adaptation was faithful to the original 1991 animated film Beauty and the Beast, with all the original musical numbers included. The film was released on March 17, 2017.

Chbosky directed the 2017 film Wonder, co-written by Chbosky, Jack Thorne, and Steve Conrad and based on the 2012 novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio. The film starred Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay, and was released on November 17, 2017.

On November 29, 2018, Universal Pictures announced that Chbosky was in talks to direct the film adaptation of Steven Levenson and Pasek & Paul's Tony Award-winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen. On June 11, 2020, he was officially confirmed to direct the film. It stars Ben Platt in the title role, which he originated on Broadway, along with Kaitlyn Dever, Amandla Stenberg, Nik Dodani, Colton Ryan, Amy Adams, Danny Pino and Julianne Moore. The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2021, as its Opening Night Gala Presentation, and was released in theaters on September 24, 2021.

In October 2019, Chbosky's second novel, Imaginary Friend, debuted as a Top 10 The New York Times Best Seller.

Personal life Chbosky currently resides in Los Angeles, California. He credits screenwriter Stewart Stern with inspiring him to be a writer.

Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 1995 The Four Corners of Nowhere Also actorRole: Finneas 2005 Rent Adapted for the screen 2007 The Poughkeepsie Tapes 2012 The Perks of Being a Wallflower Also based on his novel 2016 Leaving Vogue Moran 2017 Beauty and the Beast Wonder 2021 Dear Evan Hansen 2025 Nonnas TBA Weekend Warriors Post-production

Television Year Title Writer ExecutiveProducer Creator Notes 2000 Brutally Normal 2 episodes 2006–08 Jericho