Larry Wilson

Biography

Larry Wilson (born January 23, 1948) is an American screenwriter, producer, and director best known for his work in fantasy, horror, and comedy. Born in California, he began his entertainment career in the 1980s and later became one of the creators behind some of Hollywood's most recognizable supernatural comedies.

Wilson achieved his greatest recognition with Beetlejuice (1988). Working with Michael McDowell, he developed the original story for the film and served as a producer. The movie, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder, became a major cult classic. Wilson later received a "Characters Created By" credit on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), for which he also served as executive producer.

He also co-wrote The Addams Family (1991), helping bring the famous characters to the big screen. His other writing credits include The Little Vampire (2000), The Year Without a Santa Claus (2006), The Little Vampire 3D (2017), and the animated film AINBO: Spirit of the Amazon (2021).

Wilson worked extensively in television as well. During the 1990s, he wrote and directed episodes of Tales from the Crypt. He also contributed to The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Aliens for Breakfast.

In addition to his film and television career, Wilson has worked as a teacher and writing instructor. He has taught screenwriting through UCLA Extension, sharing his experience in developing imaginative and unconventional stories.

Larry Wilson remains particularly associated with Beetlejuice and The Addams Family, two influential works that helped define the darkly comic fantasy style of late-20th-century American cinema.