E.T. Screenwriter Melissa Mathison Dies Aged 65

Melissa Mathison, the screenwriter of “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982), lost her battle with cancer yesterday and died at the age of 65. Melissa humbly began her film career in the first half of the 1970’s by working as an assistant on movies such as “The Godfather Part II” (1974) and ”Apocalypse Now” (1979).

Her début screenplay was for Carroll Ballard’s “The Black Stallion,” released in 1979 as a feature-length film, but history will definitely best remember her for “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” released in 1982. She later on collaborated with director Frank Oz, writing the screenplay for his 1995 fantasy-adventure film adaptation of “The Indian In The Cupboard.”

Melissa was married to Harrison Ford from 1982 to 2004. The couple had two children, Georgia and Malcolm.