Born in Chappaqua, NY; educated at Harvard. Former Time magazine correspondent who began his screen career as story editor, and later producer-director, of the popular TV series "Have Gun Will Travel" in the early 1960s. Pierson also wrote for "Studio One," "Alcoa Goodyear Theater," "Route 66" and "Naked City" during the Golden Age of TV. Pierson's first feature screenplay, for CAT BALLOU (1965), earned him an Oscar® nomination and he won the award for his finely observed script for Sidney Lumet's DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975). Other work includes the classic individual-against-the-unjust-prison-system drama, COOL HAND LUKE (1967), as well as adaptations of Scott Turow's bestseller PRESUMED INNOCENT (1990) and (in collaboration) Bobbie Ann Mason's novel IN COUNTRY (1989). Pierson made his feature directorial debut with THE LOOKING GLASS WAR (1969) and subsequently helmed the 1976 Barbra Streisand-Kris Kristofferson remake of A STAR IS BORN as well as KING OF THE GYPSIES (1978), all of which he also scripted. His subsequent directing work has been in television ("Citizen Kohn", "Truman", "Conspiracy", et al.). Pierson was president of the Writers Guild of America, West (1981-1983, 1993-1995), and he served as president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (2001 - 2005).  Nominated for Writing (Best Story and Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) 1965: CAT BALLOU (w. Walter Newman)  Nominated for Writing (Best Story and Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) 1967: COOL HAND LUKE (w. Donn Pearce)  Writing (Best Original Screenplay) 1975: DOG DAY AFTERNOON 3 nominations, 1 Award