Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Keith Bunin

Keith Bunin is an American playwright and screenwriter born in Poughkeepsie, New York, best known for his Off-Broadway plays exploring themes of family, identity, and human connection, as well as his contributions to animated films including the screenplay for Pixar's Onward (2020) and story credit for Netflix's Nimona (2023). Bunin first gained recognition in theater with his early plays The Credeaux Canvas (2001), The World Over (2002), and The Busy World Is Hushed (2006), all of which premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons under the artistic direction of Tim Sanford. His subsequent works include The Unbuilt City (2006) at New York Stage and Film, the book for the musical 10 Million Miles (2007) at Atlantic Theater Company, and Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir (2012) co-produced by La Jolla Playhouse and City Theatre Pittsburgh. More recently, Bunin's play The Coast Starlight—commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse where it premiered in 2019—received its New York premiere at Lincoln Center Theater in 2023 and has been staged at venues including Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 2024 and Burien Actors Theatre in 2025. In screenwriting, Bunin adapted Joe Hill's novel into the screenplay for Horns (2013), directed by Alexandre Aja and starring Daniel Radcliffe. He co-wrote episodes of HBO's In Treatment Season 2 (2008), centering on the character Oliver, and contributed to the romantic comedy Which Brings Me to You (2024), based on the novel by Julianna Baggott and Ayelet Waldman. His work on Onward, co-written with director Dan Scanlon and Jason Headley, earned a nomination for Best Writing in a Feature at the 48th Annie Awards in 2021. Bunin resides in Brooklyn, New York, and Rhode Island.

Early life and education

Family background

Keith Bunin was born in 1971 in , where he spent his early years. He grew up in a family shaped by diverse religious heritages, with a half-Jewish and a Catholic mother. Despite his parents' backgrounds, Bunin was raised in the Episcopalian faith, being baptized and confirmed in the church, though his family rarely attended services. This blending of influences fostered an early exposure to varied cultural and religious elements, contributing to his self-described identity as a "religious polyglot" who views religion as an ongoing conversation. Such formative experiences laid the groundwork for recurring themes of and dynamics in Bunin's later dramatic works, where questions of and personal heritage often intersect. Following this upbringing, he transitioned to formal at Oakwood Friends School for his final three years of high school.

Academic background

Keith Bunin attended Oakwood Friends School in , graduating in 1989. As a Quaker institution, the school emphasized values such as and , which Bunin later credited with shaping his understanding of ethical action and . For his undergraduate education, Bunin initially moved to to study film at (NYU) Tisch School of , where he focused on film production before shifting toward writing. He ultimately earned a B.A. from , a progressive institution known for its individualized, self-directed learning approach that encouraged creative exploration. Bunin pursued graduate studies at , obtaining an M.F.A. in Writing through the School of the Arts, honing his skills in playwriting and narrative structure. This program provided a rigorous foundation in theatrical craft, influencing his development as a dramatist. Following his education, Bunin relocated to in 1995, immersing himself in a vibrant creative community that became a hub for his emerging career in writing.

Theatrical career

Early plays

Keith Bunin's debut play, The Credeaux Canvas, premiered at in 2001, marking his entry into professional theater. The story centers on three young New Yorkers—Winston, a struggling painter; , the disowned son of a prominent ; and Tess, a model—who devise a scheme to forge a attributed to the fictional 19th-century artist Antoine Credeaux and sell it to an affluent older collector. This plot explores moral dilemmas surrounding deception, ambition, and interpersonal dynamics, as the characters' relationships evolve amid the risks of their con. Directed by Jack O'Brien, the production featured a cast including , , , and E. Katherine Kerr, and received mixed reviews for its witty dialogue and tense character interactions, though some critics noted inconsistencies in the forgery's plausibility. Following this, Bunin presented The World Over at the same venue in 2002, directed by Tim Vasen. The play follows Adam, an orphan convinced he is the lost prince of Gildoray—a mythical kingdom that existed for only one day—forcing him into a global odyssey of shipwrecks, battles, and encounters that test his identity and resilience. Drawing on epic traditions like , it delves into themes of belief, displacement, and the interconnectedness of human experiences across cultures. Starring in the lead, the production was praised for its imaginative scope and allegorical depth but critiqued for occasionally faltering pacing in its seriocomic tone. Bunin continued his association with Playwrights Horizons with the 2006 world premiere of The Busy World Is Hushed, directed by and starring as Bishop Hannah. The narrative unfolds through the evolving bond between Hannah, a progressive bishop; her adult son Billy, who grapples with his identity; and Billy's boyfriend Peter, as they navigate family secrets tied to a lost . Central themes include the tensions between faith and sexuality, parental expectations, and the search for personal truth within a religious framework. The play earned a 2007 Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Play, lauded for its nuanced exploration of and emotional authenticity. Across these early works, Bunin's plays consistently probe personal ethics and intimate relationships, often using or quests as lenses to examine and moral ambiguity.

Major productions

Bunin entered a more established phase of his theatrical career in the late , with productions that showcased his evolving style of blending intimate character studies with broader existential inquiries. His for the musical 10 Million Miles, with music and lyrics by , premiered Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company's Linda Gross Theater in 2007, directed by Michael Mayer. The work follows a young couple, Duane and , on a cross-country from to , exploring themes of escape, recovery, and tentative human bonds amid personal turmoil, marking a shift toward narratives of relational . In 2015, The Unbuilt City received its world premiere at New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Season at Vassar College, directed by Sean Mathias. The play examines a love affair in New York, reflecting on life and art. In 2011, Bunin's play Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir received its world premiere at Pittsburgh's City Theatre, directed by Andrew Paul, followed by a production at La Jolla Playhouse in 2012 as part of their Without Walls site-specific series, staged in the intimate Martinis Above Fourth lounge and directed by Mark Rucker. The piece, framed as a cabaret performance, depicts the life of a closeted gay singer in 1950s Greenwich Village, weaving standards by Cole Porter and others with monologues that reflect on love, identity, and the era's constraints, emphasizing the quiet ache of unspoken connections. Bunin deepened his ties to La Jolla Playhouse through residencies and commissions, including participation in their DNA New Work Series, which supported development of new pieces, while his earlier association with Playwrights Horizons—where his initial plays like The Credeaux Canvas and The Busy World Is Hushed premiered—laid foundational elements for his mature thematic focus on vulnerability and empathy. La Jolla commissioned his most prominent stage work to date, The Coast Starlight, which premiered there in 2019 under Tyne Rafaeli's direction, before its Off-Broadway run at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater from February 16 to April 16, 2023, also directed by Rafaeli. It was subsequently staged at Milwaukee Repertory Theater from September 3 to October 6, 2024. The play unfolds on the Amtrak Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to Seattle, where six strangers—a young man harboring a secret, a Navy medic, a cartoonist, and others—engage in imagined alternate conversations that reveal regrets, aspirations, and the roads not taken, creating a tapestry of fleeting human interdependencies. Across these mid-career works, critics consistently lauded Bunin's ability to infuse everyday encounters with profound emotional resonance, noting the plays' rueful introspection and their illumination of the fragile threads of connection in an isolating world. The 2023 Lincoln Center production of The Coast Starlight earned particular acclaim, with actress Mia Barron winning the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play for her portrayal of Jane, underscoring the ensemble's depth in conveying quiet revelations. In 2025, Bunin adapted Ali Benjamin's novel The Thing About Jellyfish for the stage, with its world premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre from January 31 (previews begin) to March 9, directed by Tyne Rafaeli. The adaptation follows a young girl grappling with grief and the mysteries of the natural world.

Screenwriting career

Film projects

Keith Bunin's entry into screenwriting began with the 2013 horror adaptation Horns, for which he wrote the screenplay based on Joe Hill's 2010 novel of the same name. The film, directed by Alexandre Aja, follows a man who awakens with demonic horns after his girlfriend's murder, using their supernatural power to compel confessions and pursue revenge against those responsible. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2013 and received a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 31, 2014. In 2014, Bunin relocated to , for a writing position at Animation Studios, where he spent approximately three years contributing to animated features and honing his skills in family-oriented storytelling. This period culminated in his co-writing the original story and screenplay for Pixar's Onward (2020), alongside director and Jason Headley. The film centers on two elf brothers embarking on a magical quest to spend one final day with their late father, blending adventure with themes of brotherhood and loss. For his work, Bunin shared a nomination for Best Writing in a Feature at the in 2021. Bunin received a story credit on the 2023 animated film , directed by , adapted from ND Stevenson's . The project explores sci-fi elements of identity, acceptance, and rebellion against societal norms in a futuristic medieval world. It premiered on on June 30, 2023, featuring voices by and . His most recent feature screenplay, for the romantic comedy Which Brings Me to You (2024), adapts the 2006 novel by Julianna Baggott and Steve Almond. Directed by Peter Hutchings, the film depicts two disillusioned strangers—journalist Jane (Lucy Hale) and photographer Will (Nat Wolff)—who meet at a wedding, narrowly avoid a hookup, and instead bond by recounting their failed past relationships over a day. Supporting cast includes John Gallagher Jr. and Rebecca Spence. Produced by ShivHans Pictures and Otherside Entertainment, it had a limited theatrical release on January 19, 2024, followed by an OTT debut on Jio Cinema on July 26, 2024.

Television work

Keith Bunin's contributions to television are primarily centered on his work as a for the series , where he penned the seven episodes featuring the patient during Season 2 in 2009. These episodes follow Oliver, a conflicted sixth-grader navigating the emotional turmoil of his parents' impending , as he attends sessions with Dr. Paul Weston (played by ) while his parents, Bess and Luke, grapple with their separation and differing approaches to co-parenting. The storyline explores themes of family dysfunction, childhood anxiety, and in therapy, with Oliver's sessions revealing his fears of abandonment and guilt over his parents' estrangement. Bunin collaborated closely with showrunner Warren Leight and a team of writers, including Sarah Treem and Jacquelyn Reingold, in a writers' room process that drew on his theatrical background to craft intimate, dialogue-driven narratives suited to the show's 25-minute format. The team also consulted with child psychiatrist Justin Richardson, M.D., to ensure psychological authenticity, particularly in accelerating the depiction of therapeutic transference for dramatic effect. This collaboration refined the scripts through group revisions, blending emotional depth with concise storytelling that echoed Bunin's experience in stage plays. The Oliver episodes received praise for their emotional authenticity and nuanced portrayal of , contributing to Season 2's overall critical acclaim, with reviewers highlighting the series' addictive intimacy and probing character studies. Bunin's work on In Treatment marked a pivotal bridge from his theater roots—known for character-focused dramas—to the episodic constraints of , honing his ability to distill complex interpersonal dynamics into focused, session-based narratives. This skill set paralleled his later endeavors, such as the family-oriented story in Pixar's Onward.

References

  1. [1]
    Keith Bunin Movies & TV Shows List | Rotten Tomatoes
    Lowest Rated: Rotten score. 41% Horns (2013). Birthday: Not Available. Birthplace: Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Highest-Rated Movies. Onward poster.
  2. [2]
    Keith Bunin - Theatrical Rights Worldwide
    Keith Bunin is the author of the play THE COAST STARLIGHT, which was commissioned and first produced by La Jolla Playhouse, and received its NYC premiere.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  3. [3]
    Keith Bunin - IMDb
    Keith Bunin. Writer: Onward. Keith Bunin is known for Onward (2020), Nimona (2023) and Horns (2013).<|control11|><|separator|>
  4. [4]
    Keith Bunin | LATW
    Keith Bunin is an American dramatist and screenwriter. His plays include 10 Million Miles (Linda Gross Theatre); Sam Hendrix at the Bon Soir (City Theatre ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  5. [5]
    Keith Bunin (Playwright): Credits, Bio, News & More | Broadway World
    Looking to find out more about Keith Bunin (Playwright)? We have a full Biography, Photos, Theatre Credits, TV and Movies listings, Videos and more!Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  6. [6]
    48th - Annie Awards
    ANNIE AWARD FOR. Best Writing - Feature. Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley & Keith Bunin. "Onward". Pixar Animation Studios. Pete Docter, Mike Jones & Kemp Powers. " ...
  7. [7]
    None
    ### Summary of Keith Bunin's Personal Background, Family, Religion, and Birth
  8. [8]
    Congratulations to Keith Bunin '89 on the success of Onward, the ...
    Congrats to Henry on his 1st place win! And congrats to the entire Team for a winning season! Don't stop running! #oakwoodfriends #crosscountryrunning #dontstop.
  9. [9]
    From the Writers' Picket Lines: 'I Hate That I'm on Strike' - Beliefnet
    This post is from playwright and screenwriter Keith Bunin ... I learned everything I know about civil disobedience as a student at Oakwood Friends School in ...
  10. [10]
    Keith Bunin On How THE COAST STARLIGHT Came About
    Feb 1, 2023 · Bunin, who was raised in upstate New York and came to New York to study film at NYU and went on to graduate work at Columbia, began riding that ...
  11. [11]
    [PDF] The Coast Starlight 2.0 - Knox College Theatre
    He attended film school at New. York University, and then graduated with a B.A. from. Goddard College. ... Playwright Keith Bunin explains how he used this idea ...
  12. [12]
    Keith Bunin - Doollee
    He received his B.A. from Goddard College and his M.A. from Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn. In 2011 Keith scripted a film entitled Ezekiel Moss ...
  13. [13]
    Keith Bunin - Columbia School of the Arts
    Keith Bunin is a playwright and screenwriter. His screenwriting credits include Onward (Disney/Pixar), Horns (Mandalay), Nimona (Netflix/Annapurna) and ...Missing: Goddard | Show results with:Goddard
  14. [14]
    Strangers on a train: an interview with playwright Keith Bunin
    Apr 11, 2023 · Bunin is a prolific playwright whose other plays include “The Busy World is Hushed,” “The Credeaux Canvas,” and “The World Over,” all presented ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  15. [15]
    The Credeaux Canvas - Variety
    Jun 5, 2001 · "The Credeaux Canvas," Keith Bunin's play about an attempt at art forgery, has serious credibility problems of its own.
  16. [16]
    The World Over - Variety
    Oct 1, 2002 · Production: A Playwrights Horizons presentation of a play in two acts by Keith Bunin. Directed by Tim Vasen. Crew: Set, Mark Wendland; costumes, ...
  17. [17]
    THEATER REVIEW; Danger in a Fairy Tale Taken Seriously
    Oct 2, 2002 · And now there's ''The World Over,'' an earnestly whimsical new play by Keith Bunin about a man whose whole life is destroyed by a nursery story.<|control11|><|separator|>
  18. [18]
    2007 Nominees : Lucille Lortel Awards
    2007 LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS NOMINATIONS AND RECIPIENTS. Outstanding Play. The Busy World Is Hushed. Written by Keith Bunin. Produced by Playwrights Horizons.
  19. [19]
    The PlayFinder - Dramatists Play Service
    THE STORY: Winston, a young painter, shares an East Village apartment with Jamie, the son of a prominent art dealer. The death of Jamie's father, ...Missing: summary | Show results with:summary
  20. [20]
    10 Million Miles, New Road-Trip Musical With Tunes by Griffin and ...
    Jun 14, 2007 · 10 Million Miles, the new Keith Bunin-Patty Griffin musical directed by 2007 Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, opens June 14 at the Atlantic Theater Company's ...
  21. [21]
    10 Million Miles - Theater - Review - The New York Times
    Jun 15, 2007 · Book by Keith Bunin; music and lyrics by Patty Griffin; directed by Michael Mayer; music direction, arrangements and orchestrations by Tim Weil; ...
  22. [22]
    "Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir" 12/8/11 - Talkin'Broadway
    Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir, a world premiere with music. By Keith Bunin. At the City Theatre through December 18. For performance and ticket information, call ...
  23. [23]
    THEATER REVIEW: Playhouse's 'Bon Soir' takes clubgoers on a ...
    Sep 30, 2012 · The intimate cocktail lounge/supper club is hosting “Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir,” a cabaret-style musical play about a closeted gay nightclub ...
  24. [24]
    'Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir' charms at City Theatre
    Nov 22, 2011 · It's the premiere of Keith Bunin's emotional biography of a gay man looking for love in the wrong decade framed with evocative romantic show ...
  25. [25]
    San Diego Theater Review: SAM BENDRIX AT THE BON SOIR (La ...
    Oct 9, 2012 · Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir is a production of La Jolla Playhouse's “Without Walls” series. It is a site-specific program that has had ...
  26. [26]
    [PDF] la jolla playhouse announces projects for sixth dna new work series
    Mar 22, 2018 · Keith Bunin (playwright, The Coast Starlight) is very happy to return to La Jolla Playhouse, where his play Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir was ...
  27. [27]
    New Works by Keith Bunin, Idris Goodwin & More to be Presented in ...
    Nov 1, 2022 · New Works by Keith Bunin, Idris Goodwin & More to be Presented in La Jolla Playhouse's 2022 DNA New Work Series. The Series offers playwrights ...
  28. [28]
    The Coast Starlight : Shows - Lincoln Center Theater
    A young man armed with a secret that can land him in terrible trouble boards the Coast Starlight, the long-distance train that runs from Los Angeles to Seattle.
  29. [29]
    The Coast Starlight - La Jolla Playhouse
    Mr. Bunin is very happy to return to La Jolla Playhouse, where his play Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir was produced in 2012. His plays The Busy World Is Hushed, ...
  30. [30]
    'The Coast Starlight' Review: Strangers on a Train
    Mar 13, 2023 · A gentle, rueful play, directed with a steady and sympathetic hand by Tyne Rafaeli, it settles down among six passengers sharing a single coach.
  31. [31]
    Featured Performer in a Play - Lucille Lortel Awards
    OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER IN A PLAY ; 2025. Michael Rishawn, Table 17 ; 2024. Eli Gelb, Stereophonic ; 2023. Mia Barron, The Coast Starlight ; 2022*. Francis ...
  32. [32]
    Wolf Play and Titanique Top List of 2023 Lortel Award Winners
    May 8, 2023 · Mia Barron – The Coast Starlight. Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical Marla Mindelle – Titaníque. Outstanding Featured Performer in a ...
  33. [33]
    TIFF 2013 Review: The Devil Is In The Details In HORNS
    Sep 8, 2013 · ... adaptation of Joe Hill's by all accounts quite good novel, Horns. ... Horns. Director(s). Alexandre Aja. Writer(s). Keith Bunin (screenplay) ...
  34. [34]
    Horns | Rotten Tomatoes
    Rating 41% (122) Keith Bunin. Distributor: Radius TWC. Production Co: Red Granite Pictures ... Release Date (Theaters): Oct 31, 2014, Limited. Release Date (Streaming): Aug ...
  35. [35]
    Horns (2014) - Box Office and Financial Information - The Numbers
    Production and Technical Credits ; Alexandre Aja, Director ; Keith Bunin, Screenwriter ; Joe Hill, Story Creator ; Cathy Schulman, Producer ; Riza Aziz, Producer.Missing: 2013 | Show results with:2013
  36. [36]
    48th Annie Awards
    Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley & Keith Bunin. "Onward". Pixar Animation Studios. Pete Docter, Mike Jones & Kemp Powers. "Soul". Pixar Animation Studios. Mark Burton ...Missing: original | Show results with:original
  37. [37]
    'Onward' is a personal journey set in a fantasy world
    Jan 25, 2021 · Bunin said, “The things that changed the least in the movie were probably the first three minutes and the climax: The question of what a ...
  38. [38]
    Nimona (2023) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
    Nimona (2023) - Cast and crew credits ... story by &. Keith Bunin · Keith Bunin. story by. Nate Stevenson · Nate Stevenson. based on the graphic novel by (as ND ...
  39. [39]
    Nimona: Redefining Representation and Acceptance in Animation
    Aug 14, 2023 · With Nimona being this chaotic spark that essentially aims to change everything, the theme of identity is confidently embedded in the DNA of ...
  40. [40]
    Nimona movie review & film summary (2023) | Roger Ebert
    Rating 2/4 · Review by Simon AbramsJun 30, 2023 · Unfortunately, several of the main characters' facial expressions seem more like dutiful mimicry—“Nimona” was based on ND Stevenson's graphic ...
  41. [41]
    'Which Brings Me to You' — Release Date, Plot, Cast, and ... - Collider
    Jan 17, 2024 · The upcoming film's screenplay was written by Keith Bunin, whose previous credits include Nimona and Onward. Which Brings Me to You is produced ...
  42. [42]
    Which Brings Me to You | Rotten Tomatoes
    Rating 70% (30) Two romantic burnouts, Jane and Will, are immediately drawn to each other at a mutual friend's wedding. After a disastrous hookup in the coatroom.
  43. [43]
    Which Brings Me to You (2023) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
    Steve Almond. novel. Julianna Baggott · Julianna Baggott. novel. Keith Bunin · Keith Bunin. screenplay. Cast. Edit · Lucy Hale · Lucy Hale · Jane · Nat Wolff.Missing: 2024 history
  44. [44]
    Keith Bunin's Screenplay "Which Brings Me To You" will be released ...
    Jul 16, 2024 · The movie will be coming to at-home audiences July 26, 2024 on Jio Cinema. The story revolves around journalist Jane and photographer Will.
  45. [45]
    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/which_brings_me_to_you
  46. [46]
    How to Turn Psychotherapy Into Exciting Television | Psychiatric News
    And as Bunin, who wrote the episodes about Oliver—a boy caught between two divorcing parents—noted, “It was a challenge making the transference between ...Missing: storyline | Show results with:storyline<|control11|><|separator|>
  47. [47]
    A Room With A View - DGA
    Like many In Treatment writers, including Marsha Norman, Sarah Treem, and Keith Bunin, Leight (Side Man) is a playwright at his core. And like many involved ...
  48. [48]
    Sessions and the Single Man: 'In Treatment' Returns to HBO
    Apr 2, 2009 · Divorced, displaced and being sued for malpractice, Paul is newly installed on the third floor of a corner Brooklyn brownstone (though the first ...