D. Dornic

Graham Moore, born October 18, 1981, is an American writer and filmmaker recognized for his Academy Award-winning screenplay for "The Imitation Game." Raised in Chicago by divorced parents, both lawyers, Moore pursued higher education at Columbia University, earning a degree in religious history. His background includes notable family connections, with his mother having served as Chicago's chief lawyer and as First Lady Michelle Obama's chief of staff.

Moore's career began in television writing before transitioning to novels and screenplays. His debut novel, "The Sherlockian," achieved bestseller status. His screenplay for "The Imitation Game" was a critical success, earning him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He has since published other novels, including "The Last Days of Night" and "The Holdout," and has also directed feature films. Moore is married and has a child, and resides in Los Angeles.

Graham Moore's literary career gained significant traction with his debut novel, "The Sherlockian," which quickly appeared on The New York Times bestseller list. His most prominent work remains the screenplay for the 2014 film "The Imitation Game." This script, initially topping the 2011 Black List of unproduced screenplays, earned him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Moore continued his novelistic pursuits with "The Last Days of Night," a historical novel set in 1888 New York City, focusing on the rivalry between inventors Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse. His subsequent novel, "The Holdout," published in 2020, explores a legal thriller narrative. Moore has also ventured into directing, with his first feature film, "The Outfit," premiering in 2022 to positive reception. His works are often adapted for screen, with "The Holdout" also being considered for adaptation.

During his 2015 Academy Award acceptance speech for "The Imitation Game," Moore shared a personal anecdote about attempting suicide at age 16 due to feelings of alienation. He dedicated his award to others who feel "weird" or different, intending to offer a message of belonging. This speech led to widespread assumptions that Moore was gay, drawing comparisons to other LGBTQ+ figures in Hollywood. However, Moore later clarified that he is straight. The speech subsequently faced criticism for its perceived vagueness and for potentially misrepresenting his personal experience, with some commentators questioning the narrative framing of a film about Alan Turing, a gay mathematician, by a straight writer.

“When I was 16 years old, I tried to kill myself because I felt weird and I felt different, and I felt like I did not belong. And now I'm standing here, and so I would like this moment to be for this kid out there who feels like she's weird or she's different or she doesn't fit in anywhere: Yes, you do. I promise you do. Stay weird, stay different.”