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Westchester Is Well-Represented With Oscar Nominations

This story has been updated.

Dan Futterman, who co-wrote the movie "Foxcatcher" with E. Max Frye, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. He is a graduate of Mamaroneck High School.

Dan Futterman, who co-wrote the movie "Foxcatcher" with E. Max Frye, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. He is a graduate of Mamaroneck High School.

Photo Credit: JPF.org
Mamaroneck High grad Bennett Miller was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director for the movie "Foxcatcher."

Mamaroneck High grad Bennett Miller was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director for the movie "Foxcatcher."

Photo Credit: Screen grab from YouTube

MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Mamaroneck High School graduates Dan Futterman and Bennett Miller were nominated for Oscars Thursday for their work on the film "Foxcatcher."

Futterman was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for the movie along with E. Max Frye. Futterman grew up in Larchmont and graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1985. He also graduated from Columbia University.

Miller, who graduated with Futterman from Mamaroneck High School in 1985, directed “Foxcatcher,” a drama based on true events. The story centers onJohn du Pont's efforts in hiring a pair of famous wrestling brothers to help train U.S. Olympians.

Actor Chance Kelly of Rye, a Byram Hills High School graduate, appeared in a supporting role in Best Picture Nominee "American Sniper," playing the part of Corporal Jones.

Bradley Cooper, an alumnus of The New School was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in “American Sniper.” The New School is now called the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University.

Futterman, who is also an actor and producer, began focusing on his screen writing career in 2007. He also wrote Capote. Miller, who graduated from New York University, also directed “Moneyball.”

Futterman and Miller both participated in Mamaroneck High's PACE or Performing Arts Curriculum Experience program. They have been friends since 7th grade.  

Dan’s father, former Mamaroneck Board of Education member Stan Futterman, said,  “Through the Mamaroneck public school system, my wife Linda and I have known Bennett Miller for three-quarters of the time we’ve known our own son Danny. We’ve watched the two progress from school plays through home-made movies, arts camp and college to where they can actually make a living doing what they love.  Along the way, sadly, they lost their good friend and collaborator Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He would be just as proud of them today as we are.” 

Stan Futterman said PACE is where his son “discovered a passion for the performing arts and a sense that he would have a role in them, as a devoted amateur at least, and perhaps more.”

Former PACE teacher John Fredricksen said, “I became the PACE theater teacher in both Danny and Bennett's senior year. I only had the pleasure of teaching these enthusiastic and intelligent young men for one year. Bennett Miller was in 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' the first ever production I directed in PACE, and Danny Futterman was the lead in 'The Good Doctor,' the second production I directed in PACE. They were both fun to work with. Congratulations to them both!" 

Click here for the complete list of Oscar nominees.  

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