Michael Grais
Michael Grais is a screenwriter, best known as the co-writer of Poltergeist (1982).
He has also produced such movies as Great Balls of Fire! (1989, executive producer), Marked for Death (1990) and Sleepwalkers (1992).
Biography
After attending Emerson College and N.Y.U. Film School, Grais set out for Los Angeles, where he began a TV writing career before eventually moving into feature films. He has more than 60 years
From his association with Steven Spielberg, Grais co-wrote Poltergeist. Its success led to a sequel, Poltergeist II, which Grais co-wrote and produced. He then co-wrote and executive produced the TV pilot Visitors From the Unknown for CBS and executive-produced the film Great Balls of Fire!, starring Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis.
In 1990, he co-wrote and produced Marked for Death, with Steven Seagal. In 1992, he produced Steven King’s Sleepwalkers, and co-wrote Cool World for director Ralph Bakshi. In 2000, he executive-produced Who Killed Atlanta's Children? for Showtime. Grais also oversaw production on the syndicated series, The Immortal.
Filmography
- Baretta (1975) (TV)
- Starsky and Hutch (1976) (TV)
- Kojak (1977) (TV)
- Death Hunt (with Mark Victor) (1981)
- Poltergeist (with Mark Victor) (1982)
- Poltergeist II: The Other Side (with Mark Victor) (1986) (also Producer)
- Great Balls of Fire! (1989) (Executive Producer)
- Marked for Death (with Mark Victor) (1990) (also Producer)
- UFO Abductions (with Mark Victor) (1991) (TV) (Producer)
- Sleepwalkers (1992) (Producer)
- Cool World (with Mark Victor) (1992)
- Christina's House (1999) (Executive Producer)
- Who Killed Atlanta's Children? (2000) (TV) (Executive Producer)
- The Immortal (2001) (TV)
- Deception (2001) (Producer)
- Lakeshore Drive (2006) (Director/Executive Producer)
- Behind the Wall (2008) (Producer)
Theater
- The Death of Reason (2009)