Anne Steel

Born in Dothan, Alabama, in 1951, Robert M. Harling III pursued higher education at Northwestern State University and earned a law degree from Tulane University, where he performed with a band. After law school, he moved to New York to begin an acting career, working various jobs in the industry.

The pivotal moment in his career came after the death of his sister, Susan, from diabetes. This tragedy inspired him to write a short story, which he adapted into the play "Steel Magnolias." The play premiered off-Broadway in 1987 to significant acclaim and was translated into numerous languages. Harling subsequently adapted his own work into the screenplay for the 1989 film adaptation of "Steel Magnolias," even appearing in a small role as a minister. He continued to write screenplays for films such as "Soapdish" (1991), "The First Wives Club" (1996), and "Laws of Attraction" (2004), and also served as an uncredited script doctor on various projects. Additionally, he wrote and directed the sequel to "Terms of Endearment," titled "The Evening Star" (1996), and worked as a writer and producer for the TV show "GCB" in 2012.

Robert M. Harling III was born in Dothan, Alabama, on November 12, 1951. He is one of three children of Robert M. Harling Jr. and Margaret Jones Harling. Harling attended Northwestern State University before continuing his education at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans. During his time in law school, he was a member of a band that performed locally on weekends.

Following his graduation from law school, Harling relocated to New York with aspirations of an acting career. His early professional experiences included auditioning for minor roles in theater and television commercials, as well as working as a ticket seller for Broadway productions. A significant turning point in his career was the death of his younger sister, Susan, from diabetes in 1985. This personal loss motivated him to write a short story that he later transformed into the play "Steel Magnolias." The play debuted off-Broadway in 1987 and received widespread critical praise, eventually being translated into seventeen languages.

Building on the success of "Steel Magnolias," Harling penned the screenplay for its 1989 film adaptation, in which he also made a cameo appearance as a minister. His subsequent screenwriting credits include "Soapdish" (1991), "The First Wives Club" (1996), and "Laws of Attraction" (2004). He also contributed his skills as an uncredited script doctor to numerous films. In 1996, Harling wrote and directed "The Evening Star," a sequel to the acclaimed film "Terms of Endearment." More recently, in 2012, he served as both writer and producer for the television series "GCB," and it was reported that he was adapting "Soapdish" into a musical.

Harling identifies as Presbyterian and is openly gay. He maintains a connection to his home state, owning Oaklawn Plantation in Natchitoches, Louisiana.