Stephen Chbosky

Stephen Chbosky is an American author, screenwriter, and film director, born in 1970 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied screenwriting at the University of Southern California, and his Pittsburgh upbringing would later provide the setting for his most famous work. He began his career in film before achieving literary success.

Chbosky is best known for his debut novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, published in 1999. Told through letters written by an introverted teenager named Charlie, the coming-of-age story addresses adolescence, mental illness, trauma, and first love with frankness and compassion. It became a beloved bestseller, particularly among young readers, while also becoming one of the most frequently challenged books in American schools.

In 2012 Chbosky wrote and directed the acclaimed film adaptation of his own novel, a rare achievement that brought the story to an even wider audience. He has also worked extensively in film and television, including writing the screenplay for the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast and co-creating a television series.

In 2019 he returned to fiction with Imaginary Friend, a lengthy horror novel that marked a sharp departure from his debut. Across novels and films, Chbosky is known for his empathetic portrayal of young people navigating difficult emotional terrain.