Leslie Dixon

Leslie Dixon left the clean air and charm of San Francisco to move to Los Angeles to become a screenwriter, against everyone’s advice. With grades too poor for a scholarship and no family money, Leslie did not go to college. Instead, she suffered through a series of menial jobs and guitar-playing boyfriends before finally discovering, to her surprise, that she was venally ambitious.

Dixon began writing at night. Her second script was made into the hit film Outrageous Fortune, starring Bette Midler and Shelley Long, which jump-started her career. Later credits include Overboard, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Thomas Crown Affair, Pay It Forward, Freaky Friday and Hairspray.

Dixon is married to the screenwriter Tom Ropelewski and they have one accidental son. They have stopped using the boy’s first name and simply refer to him as “Satan.”

Relativity Media