Another Laurelhurst Writer and Producer in Our Midst

Tonight a new miniseries starts on HBO and four of the episodes were written by Laurelhurst resident, Robert Schenkkan. 

We learned about this directly from Robert, who sent us an email shortly after our post on Laurelhurst children's author, Katherine Burke.

The HBO series, The Pacific, which begins airing tonight is the companion mini-series to The Band of Brothers.

Robert,, a long-time Laurelhurst resident, wrote four of the upcoming episodes: #4 Peleliu, #6 Gloucester, #8 Iwo Jima and #10 Homecoming.

Robert wrote in his email to that he is best known as the Pulitzer prize winning author of the play, The Kentucky Cycle.

He has also written two children's plays, one of which, The Devil and Daniel Webster, premiered at the Seattle Children's Theater in 2006.

Robert tells us that "THE PACIFIC miniseries follows the real life exploits of three Marines: Robert Leckie, John Basilone, and Eugene Sledge. Leckie wrote a book about his experiences, called HELMET FOR MY PILLOW and Sledge wrote another memorable memoir called, WITH THE OLD BREED. John Basilone, of course, received the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Guadacanal and died on Iwo Jima. It will air in ten parts, the first part this Sunday, and will move from Guadacanal to Peleliu to Melbourne to Gloucester to Iwo Jima to Okinawa and finally, to home."

Robert says he "took this job (producer, writer) in part for the opportunity to work with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, but also to honor my father who served in the Navy during the war as a bomb disposal officer and saw action in the Treasury Islands, Guadacanal, and finally, Japan. He retired from the Navy as a Commander. One of the things that pleases me most is the very positive response from veterans who have seen the series and feel that we got it right."

Robert is currently writing a film for Dreamworks and has written several TV miniseries as well as films for many well-know producers and actors.

Robert has lived in Laurelhurst for 15 years with his wife, an author and their two children.

Thanks for wring to us Robert and sharing your very interesting profession.

We'd love to hear from other neighborhood residents about their professions, hobbies, community interests, etc.

Send us email at laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com.