William Goldman

William Goldman – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

William Goldman (1931–2018), the Oscar-winning American novelist and screenwriter, penned Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President’s Men, The Princess Bride, and Marathon Man. Explore his biography, writing philosophy, major works, and lasting legacy.

Introduction

William Goldman was one of Hollywood’s most versatile storytellers. He moved fluidly among novels, screenplays, theater, and memoir, infusing each medium with sharp insight, irony, and deep respect for storytelling craft. He won two Academy Awards (for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men) and coined one of the most quoted lines about Hollywood: “Nobody knows anything.”

His stories—whether comedic, dramatic, or suspenseful—often explore illusions, identity, betrayal, and the gap between appearance and reality. He remains a beloved figure among writers and cinephiles alike.

Early Life and Family

William Goldman was born on August 12, 1931, in Highland Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Maurice Clarence Goldman and Marion (née Weil).

His childhood was marked by challenges: his father struggled with alcoholism, which led to financial and emotional instability in the family.

Despite these hardships, Goldman found solace in reading and writing early on.

Youth, Education, and Early Aspirations

Goldman enrolled at Oberlin College in Ohio, where he took creative writing and literary courses. 1952.

Because the Korean War was underway, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he worked as a clerk in the Pentagon (thanks to his typing skills).

Using the GI Bill, he went on to earn an M.A. at Columbia University in 1956.

Career and Achievements

Transition to Novelist

Goldman's original ambition was in literature. His older brother, James Goldman, was already a playwright and had some success.

In 1956, he wrote his first novel, The Temple of Gold, completing the first draft in less than three weeks.

He followed with Your Turn to Curtsy, My Turn to Bow (1958), Soldier in the Rain (1960), and Boys and Girls Together (1964) among others. Soldier in the Rain).

Move to Screenwriting

Goldman’s transition to Hollywood was gradual. His early break came by adapting and rewriting scripts, often speculatively (i.e. writing first, getting paid later).

One early success was Harper (1966), adapted from Ross Macdonald’s detective series. Goldman pitched it and wrote the adaptation, which yielded good attention.

But his major breakthrough came with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). Goldman sold the original screenplay for a record amount (about $400,000), and the film became a critical and box office success. Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for it.

Another landmark was All the President’s Men (1976), the film adaptation of the Watergate investigation by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Goldman earned an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for it. “Follow the money.”

Goldman also adapted his own novels into screenplays, including Marathon Man (1976) and The Princess Bride (1987).

Other screenplays and credits include Magic, The Hot Rock, Chaplin, Maverick, The Ghost and the Darkness, Absolute Power, The General’s Daughter, Hearts in Atlantis, and Dreamcatcher.

Goldman also served as a “script doctor,” uncredited, refining or rewriting parts of scripts such as A Few Good Men, Indecent Proposal, Malice, and Extreme Measures.

Memoirs, Essays, and Later Works

In 1983 Goldman published one of his most influential works, Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting, which includes his oft-quoted maxim: “Nobody knows anything.”

He later published Which Lie Did I Tell? : More Adventures in the Screen Trade (2000), and essay collections like The Big Picture: Who Killed Hollywood? and Other Essays.

In 1990, he published Hype and Glory, which recounts his experiences as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival and for the Miss America Pageant.

Throughout his later career, Goldman alternated between writing novels, film scripts, and nonfiction.

Themes, Style & Philosophy

Goldman often explored illusion vs. reality — how characters fool themselves or are deceived by external appearances.

He had a strong gift for dialogue and pacing — in his hands, a scene carries both story and subtext.

Goldman’s approach to Hollywood was both insider and skeptical. His memoirs reveal affection for cinema but also frustration with its illusions, politics, and unpredictability.

The line “Nobody knows anything” reflects his belief that in Hollywood, no formula or guarantee exists — success often depends on luck, timing, collaboration, and the unforeseen.

Legacy and Influence

• Goldman’s screenwriting craft is widely studied; Butch Cassidy, All the President’s Men, The Princess Bride, and Marathon Man remain touchstones of genre, character, and structure.

• His memoirs have become indispensable guides for screenwriters and storytellers. Adventures in the Screen Trade is often recommended reading in film and writing programs.

• He helped define the role of the script doctor — refining scripts behind the scenes without credit.

• Many of his stories endure in popular culture. The Princess Bride, in particular, has become a cult classic across generations.

• His taut, witty, and self-aware style influences writers and filmmakers who balance commerce and artistry.

• Posthumously, he's been remembered as a “reluctant storyteller”—someone whose work reached millions, yet retained a personal, self-critical voice.

Personality

Goldman was known for being candid, sharp, and self-deprecating. He often acknowledged his own doubts and failures.

He was a mentor to many writers and generous with advice, though he also had a reputation for being tough and frank.

Despite his success, Goldman often downplayed his work. For instance, he once said of All the President’s Men, “If I could live my life over, I would have written the same screenplays, only I wouldn’t have come near All the President’s Men.”

He had a longtime love for basketball, being a die-hard fan of the New York Knicks.

Famous Quotes

Below are several notable quotations from William Goldman:

1. “Nobody knows anything.”
   – From Adventures in the Screen Trade, encapsulating his view of uncertainty in writing and film.

2. “I don’t like my writing. I wrote a movie called Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and I wrote a novel called The Princess Bride, and those are the only two things I've ever written… that I can look at without humiliation.”

3. “Follow the money.”
   – Though commonly attributed to Deep Throat, Goldman scripted this line for All the President’s Men.

4. “A screenplay is not a novel. God, that causes problems.”
   – From his reflections on different forms of writing. (Paraphrased from his writings)

5. “There is no formula for crafting a screenplay — there is only craft.”
   – A recurring theme in his advice to writers. (Summarized from his essays)

Lessons from William Goldman

• Embrace uncertainty: Even at the height of success, Goldman recognized that one couldn’t predict hits or failures.

• Master your craft: He believed in hard work, rewrites, and understanding structure, character, and pacing.

• Adapt but stay true: He moved between novels and screenplays, but brought his voice to both.

• Write with respect for your audience: His stories balance entertainment with intelligence and emotional weight.

• Be self-aware and humble: Goldman often critiqued himself, reminding writers that success doesn’t exempt you from doubt.

Conclusion

William Goldman’s legacy is dual: he was a brilliant storyteller in multiple media, and a lucid commentator on the creative life. His films and books continue to entertain, teach, and inspire. For writers, his journey and reflections remain a steady guide: in a world of illusions and shifting fortunes, the true power lies in craft, perseverance, and keeping faith in the story.