Donald E. Westlake

Donald E. Westlake

1933-07-12 Brooklyn, New York, USA 37 Credits

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Donald Edwin Westlake (July 12, 1933 – December 31, 2008) was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres. He was a three-time Edgar Award winner, one of only two writers (the other is Joe Gores) to win Edgars in three different categories (1968, Best Novel, God Save the Mark; 1990, Best Short Story,...

Known For

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Complete Filmography

No Other Choice

No Other Choice

2026

Novel

After being unemployed for several years, a man devises a unique plan to secure a new job: eliminate his competition.

The Actor

The Actor

2025

Novel

5.6

Paul Cole finds himself stranded in a mysterious small town with no memory of who he is or how he got here. As bits and pieces of his past slowly emer...

Parker

Parker

2013

Novel

6.1

A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely all...

The Stepfather

The Stepfather

2009

Story, Original Film Writer

5.8
Writing

Michael Harding returns home from military school to find his mother happily in love and living with her new boyfriend, David. As the two men get to k...

Ripley Under Ground

Ripley Under Ground

2005

Screenplay

5.7
Writing

After his friend, a hot young artist, is killed, a resourceful American man living in London covers up the crime and tries to keep the friend's name a...

The Ax

The Ax

2005

Novel

6.9

A chemist loses his job to outsourcing. Two years later and still jobless, he hits on a solution: to genuinely eliminate his competition.

Ordo

Ordo

2004

Novel

4.7

Ordo Tupikos, a french sailor with greek origins, discover that his first wife, Estelle, with whom he had remained married a few months only 16 years ...

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

2001

Novel

5.4

Thief Kevin Caffery attempts to rob from the home of rich businessman Max Fairbanks. But Fairbanks catches him and steals his cherished ring that his ...

A Slight Case of Murder

A Slight Case of Murder

1999

Novel

6.5

In the midst of a spat, film critic Terry Thorpe accidentally kills his lover. Though Thorpe covers his tracks, he raises the suspicions of a private ...

Payback

Payback

1999

Novel

6.8

With friends like these, who needs enemies? That's the question bad guy Porter is left asking after his wife and partner steal his heist money and lea...

Mike Hammer's Mickey Spillane

Mike Hammer's Mickey Spillane

1998

as Self

6.0
Acting

Documentary about the life and work of mystery writer Mickey Spillane.

The Gods Must Be Daring

The Gods Must Be Daring

1997

Novel

4.3

A priceless statuette "Dancing God" is transfered from Africa to France. Scoundrels of all stripes are dreaming of steeling it. The most clever of the...

Two Much

Two Much

1995

Novel

5.4

Art Dodge is a painter-turned-gallerist drowning in debt. He gets in over his head when a con job leads to an engagement with a rich divorcee. He gets...

Stepfather 3

Stepfather 3

1992

Characters

5.4

After escaping a Puget Sound institution, "Stepfather" Gene Clifford alters his appearance with plastic surgery and takes on another new identity: Kei...

The Grifters

The Grifters

1990

Screenplay

6.5
Writing

A small-time conman has his loyalties torn between his estranged mother and his new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own a...

Why Me?

Why Me?

1990

Novel

5.6

A jewel thief steals a sacred ruby which sets off a chase by the police, the Turkish government, nutty American terrorists, and the CIA.

Stepfather 2

Stepfather 2

1989

Characters

5.5

"Stepfather" Jerry Blake escapes an insane asylum and winds up in another town, this time impersonating a marriage counselor. With a future wife and n...

Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery

Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery

1987

Writer

Writing

Frank Dowling has to solve the mystery of a young man who is obsessed with finding his natural parents.

The Stepfather

The Stepfather

1987

Story, Screenplay

6.5
Writing

Seemingly mild-mannered Henry Morrison — who has just murdered his entire family — quickly adopts a new identity and leaves town. After building a new...

The Twin

The Twin

1984

Novel

5.9

Matthias Duval is in love, but he can't choose between the two twin sisters Betty and Liz Kerner. To pick up the two sisters, he invents his own twin ...

Slayground

Slayground

1983

Novel

4.1

After thieves botch an armored truck robbery that leads to the death of an innocent young girl, her father vows revenge by recruiting a sociopathic hi...

Jimmy the Kid

Jimmy the Kid

1982

Novel

5.1

Gang of bumbling crooks kidnap a bratty little kid, find out they got more than they bargained for.

Hot Stuff

Hot Stuff

1979

Writer

7.0
Writing

When a police department's burglary task force is facing the possibility of being shut down because of their low conviction rate decides to try a new ...

Express to Terror

Express to Terror

1979

Creator, Story

Writing

A gambling addict, mobsters, movie producers and others are plagued with murder while aboard a high-speed rail train. This pilot episode for the short...

Come ti rapisco il pupo

Come ti rapisco il pupo

1976

Novel

4.6
The Bank Shot

The Bank Shot

1974

Novel

5.4

A bank temporarily housed in a mobile home while a new building is built, looks like an easy target to break into. On the other hand, why not steal th...

The Outfit

The Outfit

1973

Novel

6.8

A two-bit criminal takes on the Mafia to avenge his brother's death. Earl Macklin is a small time criminal who is released from prison after an unsucc...

Cops and Robbers

Cops and Robbers

1973

Writer

6.1
Writing

Two disillusioned New York policemen plan a $10 million robbery to fuel their low pensions, only to run into one debacle after another in the process.

The Hot Rock

The Hot Rock

1972

Novel

6.6

Dortmunder and his pals plan to steal a huge diamond from a museum. But this turns out to be only the first time they have to steal it...

The Split

The Split

1968

Novel

6.7

A group of thieves attempt a daring robbery of a football stadium.

Pillaged

Pillaged

1967

Novel

6.8

Over the course of one night, a gang of twelve criminals carry out a commando-like raid on a small town.

Point Blank

Point Blank

1967

Novel

7.0

After being double-crossed and left for dead, a mysterious man named Walker single-mindedly tries to retrieve the rather inconsequential sum of money ...

The Busy Body

The Busy Body

1967

Novel

7.1

Sid Caesar is a bumbling gopher to a mob boss who must recover a fortune in cash stowed in the suit of a corpse.

Made in U.S.A

Made in U.S.A

1967

Novel

6.1

Paula Nelson goes to Atlantic City to meet her lover, Richard Politzer, but finds him dead and decides to investigate his death. In her hotel room, s...

Le commissaire mène l’enquête

Le commissaire mène l’enquête

1965

Writer

Writing
Una cara para escapar

Una cara para escapar

1963

Novel

5.0

Play Dirty

N/A

Characters

Based on the professional thief character Parker, created by Donald E. Westlake. Premise TBA.