Bret Easton Ellis

Bret Easton Ellis is known to be gay, and Michael Wade Kaplan, to whom he dedicated the book “Lunar Park”, was his lover. However, he does not identify himself as gay or straight.

Bret Easton Ellis was born on March 7, 1964 to Robert Martin Ellis, a wealthy property developer, and Dale Dennis Ellis, a homemaker. He was raised in Sherman Oaks in San Fernando Valley. His parents divorced in 1982.

He was educated at The Buckley School. He enrolled for a music-based course at Bennington College in Vermont. There he became friends with writers Donna Tartt and Jonathan Lethem.

Bret Easton Ellis’s first novel was “Less Than Zero”. Published in 1985 when he was 21, and still in college, it is the story of disaffected, disillusioned, rich teenagers of Los Angeles.

“Less Than Zero” was loosely adapted into a movie in 1987 by 20th Century Fox. It starred Andrew McCarthy, Robert Downey Jr., Jami Gertz, and James Spader.

He authored a collection of short stories called “The Informers” published in 1994. The stories have interlinked characters. He partnered Nicholas Jarecki, and wrote the script for a movie version of the stories.

His 1998 novel “Glamorama” is a satire on celebrity culture and consumerism.It follows the story of a male model who becomes involved in a terrorist organization comprised entirely of other models.

In 2000, his novel “American Psycho” was made into a dark, comic movie by Guinevere Turner and Mary Harron. It was released by Lions Gate Films. The protagonist was played by Christian Bale.

Bret Easton Ellis’ second novel “The Rules of Attraction” was published in 1987. It is a comic depiction of a few promiscuous and spoiled college students in New Hampshire involved in a love triangle.

“American Psycho” was his third novel, published in 1991. The lead character, Patrick Bateman, is a serial killer and Manhattan businessman. The book created a lot of controversy for its violence and sexual content.