Edward Bunker (December 31, 1933-July 19, 2005) was an American author, screenwriter, actor, and convicted felon.
Bunker was born to a troubled home, and in retaliation acted out. Bunker was sent to juvenile hall, where he wound up becoming a hardened criminal. Bunker spent many years following in and out of prison, and escaped several times. During one of his stays in prison, he wrote the novel No Beast So Fierce, a semi-autobiographical crime novel that received critical acclaim and was adapted into the film Straight Time, for which Bunker co-wrote the script. Bunker subsequently began publishing crime novels, as well as writing screenplays and acting in films, generally playing criminals, appropriately enough. His best known role was Mr. Blue in Reservoir Dogs. Bunker died in 2005 following a surgery to improve the circulation in his legs.
Bunker's crime novels are best known for both their gritty and hard-boiled writing style and for their realistic and accurate look into the mindset of a criminal. No less than James Ellroy have praised Bunker's work and his influence on crime fiction.
List of books and screenplays Bunker wrote:
- No Beast So Fierce
- The Animal Factory
- Straight Time (co-writer)
- Little Boy Blue
- Runaway Train (co-writer)
- Dog Eat Dog
- Mr. Blue: Memoirs of a Renegade
- Stark
- Animal Factory: Film based off his novel of the same name
- Death Row Breakout and Other Stories
Filmography:
- Straight Time: Mickey
- The Long Riders: Bill Chadwell
- Runaway Train: Jonah
- The Running Man: Lenny
- Miracle Mile: The Nightwatchman
- Tango & Cash: Captain Holmes
- Best of the Best: Stan
- Reservoir Dogs: Mr. Blue
- Animal Factory: Buzzard
- The Longest Yard: Skitchy Rivers
