Biography
J. F. Lawton (born Jonathan Frederick Lawton, 11 August 1960) is an American screenwriter, film producer and director. He was born in Riverside, California, the son of author Harry Lawton. He studied filmmaking at California State University, Long Beach, before moving to Los Angeles, where he worked in post-production while writing scripts.
Lawton wrote the screenplay for the romantic comedy Pretty Woman (1990), originally developed as the darker drama Three Thousand at the Sundance Institute. The film became a major commercial success. His other screen credits include Mistress (1992), Under Siege (1992), Blankman (1994), Chain Reaction (1996) and DOA: Dead or Alive (2006). He wrote and directed The Hunted (1995) and, under the pseudonym J. D. Athens, Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989). Lawton created the television series V.I.P. (1998–2002) and wrote the book for the stage musical adaptation of Pretty Woman. He received nominations for a Writers Guild of America Award and a BAFTA Award for his Pretty Woman screenplay.
