- published: 03 Nov 2009
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Neil N. LaBute (born March 19, 1963) is an American film director, screenwriter and playwright.
LaBute was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Marian, a hospital receptionist, and Richard LaBute, a long-haul truck driver. LaBute is of French Canadian, English, and Irish ancestry, and was raised in Spokane, Washington. He studied theater at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At BYU he also met actor Aaron Eckhart, who would later play leading roles in several of his films. He produced a number of plays that pushed the envelope of what was acceptable at the conservative religious university, some of which were shut down after their premieres. However, he also was honored as one of the "most promising undergraduate playwrights" at the BYU theater department's annual awards. LaBute also did graduate work at the University of Kansas, New York University, and the Royal Academy of London.
LaBute's exposure to and interest in the film industry came with a viewing of The Soft Skin (La Peau Douce 1964), said the director to Robert K. Elder in an interview for The Film That Changed My Life.
Neil LaBute - Featured Artist
A Scene from Neil LaBute's Fat Pig
"The Shape of Things" by Neil LaBute: Fall 2011, a Bruth Media Production
THE LEE STRASBERG THEATRE & FILM INSTITUTE: Reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute
Neil LaBute on Mike Leigh's "Naked"
Neil LaBute on THE GRADUATE
Unscripted with Nicolas Cage and Neil LaBute
Middle of the Night - Neil LaBute
A scene from Reasons to be Pretty by Neil LaBute
Monologue from Reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute ( Steph )
Neil LaBute on DELIVERANCE
Ignorance: Alec Baldwin + Neil Labute (excerpt)