Served as a corporal in the US Army

Wrote first novel, "The Temple of Gold"

First play produced on Broadway, "Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole"; written with brother James

With brother, co-wrote book for the ill-fated Broadway musical, "A Family Affair"; score by John Kander and James Goldman

First novel to be turned into film, "Soldier in the Rain"

Hired to write first screenplay, a treatment of the teleplay and short novel "Flowers for Algernon" for Cliff Robertson; did not complete project (date approximate)

First screenwriting credit: doctored script by "Americanizing" Michael Relph's screenplay for "Masquerade" when Cliff Robertson replaced Rex Harrison in the cast

Adapted the Ross MacDonald novel "The Moving Target" as "Harper", a vehicle for Paul Newman

Established screenwriting credentials with an Academy Award-winning original script for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", directed by George Roy Hill and starring Newman and Robert Redford

Scripted "The Hot Rock", adapted from Donald E Westlake's novel; film starred Redford

Reteamed with director Hill and star Redford for the period comedy-drama "The Great Waldo Pepper"

Won second Oscar for adaptation of "All the President's Men" for producer-star Redford

Wrote film adaptation of own thriller "Marathon Man"

First collaboration with Richard Attenborough, the WWII drama "A Bridge Too Far"

Adapted his novel "Magic" for the screen; directed by Attenborough

First work for TV, the CBS miniseries "Mr. Horn", starring David Carradine; originally written as a film vehicle for Redford and later Steve McQueen

Became regular contributor to NEW YORK magazine

Adapted his novel, "The Princess Bride", to the screen; directed by Rob Reiner

Wrote screenplay for "Misery", based on the Stephen King novel; film directed by Reiner and starred Kathy Bates in her Oscar-winning role

First original screenplay in over 20-years "Year of the Comet"

Collaborated on screenplay for Attenborough's biopic "Chaplin"

Provided screenplay for Richard Donner's "Maverick"

Wrote script for Clint Eastwood's "Absolute Power", adapted from the novel by David Baldacci

Contributed to the screenplay adaptation of Nelson DeMille's best-seller "The General's Daughter"

Penned the script for "Hearts in Atlantis", adapted from a Stephen King book

Adapted another Stephen King novel, "Dreamcatcher," for director Lawrence Kasdan