Clancy Carlile
Encyclopedia
Clancy Carlile was an American novelist and screenwriter of Cherokee descent. He is perhaps best known for his 1980 novel Honkytonk Man
, made into a film by Clint Eastwood
.
, the son of a father who was half Cherokee Indian. He had an erratic childhood, and moved to Texas
at a young age. Carlile was a high school drop-out. He worked as a cotton picker until his family moved to California
to pick fruit. He served in the army during the Korean War
and after being discharged, obtained a master's degree at San Francisco State University
.
(1980), the tale of the life and death of a country singer which was made into a film by Clint Eastwood
in which Eastwood also starred, Carlile wrote both the novel and the screenplay. His final novel, Children of the Dust
(1995), about the settling of Oklahoma, was made into a CBS
mini-series featuring Sidney Poitier
. This novel is related to the author's heritage, being from the Oklahoma Territory
. The story is set in the late 1880s, with Gypsy Smith (Poitier) being a gunslinger of African American
and Cherokee descent who helps African American homesteaders settle the territory under the specter of white people. The novel, The Paris Pilgrims, regarding a mix of memoirs, biographies and fiction of famous American expatriates in 1920s Paris, was published posthumously in 1999.
where he had a writing fellowship at the University of Texas. Carlile had at least one child, a son, Steven, and four grandchildren. He died in Austin from cancer
at the age of 68 on June 4, 1998.
Honkytonk Man
Honkytonk Man is a 1982 American drama film set in the Great Depression. Clint Eastwood, who produced and directed, stars with his son, Kyle Eastwood. Clancy Carlile's screenplay is based on his novel of the same name...
, made into a film by Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
.
Early years
Carlile was born on a Choctaw Indian reservation in OklahomaChoctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...
, the son of a father who was half Cherokee Indian. He had an erratic childhood, and moved to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
at a young age. Carlile was a high school drop-out. He worked as a cotton picker until his family moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to pick fruit. He served in the army during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and after being discharged, obtained a master's degree at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
.
Career
Carlile began writing, and penned his first novel, presumably As I Was Young and Easy (1958) in just 17 days. This was followed by Spore 7 (1979). In Honkytonk ManHonkytonk Man
Honkytonk Man is a 1982 American drama film set in the Great Depression. Clint Eastwood, who produced and directed, stars with his son, Kyle Eastwood. Clancy Carlile's screenplay is based on his novel of the same name...
(1980), the tale of the life and death of a country singer which was made into a film by Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
in which Eastwood also starred, Carlile wrote both the novel and the screenplay. His final novel, Children of the Dust
Children of the Dust (TV miniseries)
Children of the Dust is a TV miniseries that aired on February 26 and 28, 1995 on CBS, featuring an ensemble cast led by Academy Award winning actor Sidney Poitier...
(1995), about the settling of Oklahoma, was made into a CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
mini-series featuring Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field...
. This novel is related to the author's heritage, being from the Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
. The story is set in the late 1880s, with Gypsy Smith (Poitier) being a gunslinger of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and Cherokee descent who helps African American homesteaders settle the territory under the specter of white people. The novel, The Paris Pilgrims, regarding a mix of memoirs, biographies and fiction of famous American expatriates in 1920s Paris, was published posthumously in 1999.
Personal life
Carlile spent much of his later life in Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
where he had a writing fellowship at the University of Texas. Carlile had at least one child, a son, Steven, and four grandchildren. He died in Austin from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the age of 68 on June 4, 1998.