Biography

Mr. Wellman was born and raised in the Midwest. He began as a musician, but developed a love for the theatre while pursuing graduate studies at UCLA. He studied with Lee Strasberg, and Peggy Feury at the Strasberg Institute, and at The Loft Theater for an additional ten years. He was cast as Lee Marvin's son in the Paramount film, The Klansman, starring Lee Marvin and Richard Burton, his first major break. He began to work in episodic television, the theatre, and motion pictures, including prominent roles in the films, Sudden Impact, Sommersby, Street of Dreams, and Curfew. As a writer, Mr. Wellman teamed up with UCLA friend, Alex Lasker to adapt the book Firefox for the screen for director Clint Eastwood. Mr. Wellman worked with Clint Eastwood on three projects. In addition to co-writing Firefox, Mr. Wellman did on set revisions on Clint's "Dirty Harry" hit, Sudden Impact, while also playing the role of Tyrone in the movie. Mr. Wellman took no credit for his work. But, Clint Eastwood rewarded Wellman handsomely by persuading Warner Bros (Marc Rosenberg, Studio Chief) to offer Mr. Wellman a two picture writing deal the following spring. Ultimately Mr. Eastwood hired Mr. Wellman once again to develop a final Dirty Harry project, which Mr. Eastwood has kept under lock and key to this day.

As part of the package, Warner Bros hired Wellman to adapt a novel "Fair Game" for the screen, in hopes of hiring Sylvester Stallone to star. Mr. Wellman adapted the book, Stallone signed on to star (Cobra). Stallone did his own on set revisions during the shoot. Mr. Wellman lost his screen credit in a close WGA arbitration by one percentage point.

In addition to his work at Warner Bros, Mr. Wellman did paid studio writing assignments at Paramount, Universal, Fox, and Embassy Pictures. Mr. Wellman has also lectured and taught screenwriting courses at UCLA, Santa Fe Screenwriting Festival, "Artists and Residents" in Lewisburg, West Virginia, and at StoryBoard at Fox Studios, Los Angeles: currently
- IMDb mini biography by: Wendell Wellman