Diane Thomas
Encyclopedia
Diane Thomas was a screenwriter
. She was working as a waitress while writing scripts and then had the opportunity to pitch the script for Romancing the Stone
to customer Michael Douglas
who then bought, produced, and starred in the film with Kathleen Turner
and Danny DeVito
.
Diane Thomas died in a car accident in October 1985; only six weeks before the sequel to Romancing the Stone, The Jewel of the Nile
was released. Ms. Thomas was busy writing for the movie Always for Steven Spielberg
and was not available to write Jewel of the Nile. She was also working on a sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark
before she died.
In the Special Edition of Romancing the Stone DVD, Michael Douglas stated in an interview that he had purchased a Porsche for Thomas as a present for her work with him on Romancing and help with scenes on Jewel of the Nile. Thomas was a passenger in the Porsche, while her companion driving it caused the accident, killing her instantly. The accident, according to Michael Douglas, occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway. The companion was identified as male and was driving while intoxicated.
Following her death, the UCLA Extension Writers' Program
created the Diane Thomas Screenwriting Awards in her honor. Original judges included Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas, James Brooks and Kathleen Kennedy.
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. She was working as a waitress while writing scripts and then had the opportunity to pitch the script for Romancing the Stone
Romancing the Stone
Romancing the Stone is a 1984 American action-adventure romantic comedy. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, it stars Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. The film was followed by a 1985 sequel, The Jewel of the Nile....
to customer Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
who then bought, produced, and starred in the film with Kathleen Turner
Kathleen Turner
Mary Kathleen Turner is an American actress. She came to fame during the 1980s, after roles in the Hollywood films Body Heat, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone, The War of the Roses, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Prizzi's Honor...
and Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito
Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
.
Diane Thomas died in a car accident in October 1985; only six weeks before the sequel to Romancing the Stone, The Jewel of the Nile
The Jewel of the Nile
The Jewel of the Nile is a 1985 romantic adventure film, and a sequel to the 1984 film Romancing the Stone, with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito reprising their roles...
was released. Ms. Thomas was busy writing for the movie Always for Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
and was not available to write Jewel of the Nile. She was also working on a sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by George Lucas, and starring Harrison Ford. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise...
before she died.
In the Special Edition of Romancing the Stone DVD, Michael Douglas stated in an interview that he had purchased a Porsche for Thomas as a present for her work with him on Romancing and help with scenes on Jewel of the Nile. Thomas was a passenger in the Porsche, while her companion driving it caused the accident, killing her instantly. The accident, according to Michael Douglas, occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway. The companion was identified as male and was driving while intoxicated.
Following her death, the UCLA Extension Writers' Program
UCLA Extension Writers' Program
UCLA Extension Writers' Program is a unit within UCLA Extension [1], the not-for-profit and self-supporting community outreach arm of the University of California, Los Angeles. Located in the Westwood Village area of the city, the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program offers more than 475 annual...
created the Diane Thomas Screenwriting Awards in her honor. Original judges included Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas, James Brooks and Kathleen Kennedy.