Laird Philip Koenig (September 24, 1927 – June 30, 2023) was an American author and screenwriter. His best-known work was The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, a novel published in 1974.[1] The novel was adapted into the 1976 film of the same name starring Jodie Foster. He also wrote a play based on his novel.

Laird Koenig
Born(1927-09-24)September 24, 1927
DiedJune 30, 2023(2023-06-30) (aged 95)
OccupationNovelist
Scriptwriter
Notable workThe Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

Koenig died of natural causes in Santa Barbara, California, on June 30, 2023, at the age of 95.[2][3]

Novels

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  • The Children are Watching (w. Peter L. Dixon) (Ballantine, 1970) (filmed as Attention, The Kids Are Watching, 1978)
  • The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (Coward-McCann & Geoghegan, Inc., 1974) (filmed 1976)
  • Islands (Dell, 1980)
  • The Neighbor (Avon, 1978) (filmed as Killing 'em Softly, 1982)
  • The Disciple (Bantam, 1983)
  • Rockabye (St. Martin's Press, 1981) (filmed 1986)
  • The Sea Wife (Warner Books, 1986)
  • Rising Sun (1986)
  • Morning Sun : The Story of Madam Butterfly's Boy (Prospecta Press, 2012)

Plays

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  • The Dozens. Dramatist's Play Service, New York 1969
  • The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane. Dramatist's Play Service, New York 1997, ISBN 0-8222-1571-3

Screenplays

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Awards and nominations

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Award Category Nominated work Result References
5th Saturn Awards Saturn Award for Best Writing The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Nominated [4]
3rd Golden Raspberry Awards Razzie Award for Worst Screenplay Inchon Won [5]

Adaptations

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  • (Unknown) for "Intrigues" (French TV series), 1985 (probably The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane)

References

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  1. ^ Houston, Levin (February 16, 1974). "A story of an adjustment". Free-Lance Star. p. 12. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  2. ^ "Laird Koenig Obituary". Neptune Cremation Service. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Barnes, Mike (July 16, 2023). "Laird Koenig, 'Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane' Author and Screenwriter, Dies at 95". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  4. ^ Jacobs, Christopher P. (January 18, 2017). "Overlooked Thriller Turns 40". High Plains Reader. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  5. ^ Wilson, John (2005). The Official Razzie Movie Guide. Warner Books. p. 344. ISBN 0-446-69334-0. OCLC 56033390.
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