Georgianne Levangie
Encyclopedia
Gigi Levangie Grazer is an American
novelist and screenwriter
. She attended UCLA
, where she majored in political science
. Her Hollywood career began as an assistant to producer Fred Silverman
, who dissuaded her from attending law school by offering her a substantial raise and writing assignments for the television series In the Heat of the Night
.
(2006), which was adapted for a 2007 miniseries on the USA Network
. Its success led to a regular series
that lasted one season. Her fourth novel, "Queen Takes King," was released in 2009.
According to Grazer's KTLA interview, none of these books are based on her real life, as she "has no time for any [of her heroines' exploits]" because of her children.
-Julia Roberts
film Stepmom
was based on her experience dealing with husband Brian Grazer
's children Riley and Sage from his first marriage.
, a floral arranging competition reality television series.
She has also appeared as a guest judge in Seasons 2 and 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race
on Logo.
She met Brian Grazer
by accident at Orlando-Orsini on Pico at a lunch with a Playboy
executive. They dated for six years and married on September 20, 1997. They have two sons together, Thomas (born November 15, 1999) and Patrick (born September 27, 2004). Two weeks after her novel The Starter Wife
was published on April 4, 2006, Brian filed for legal separation
. The filing was just shy of their 10 year anniversary which would have increased Levangie's share of Brian's property because California
is a community property
state. The two later reconciled; however Brian filed for divorce on June 8, 2007, citing irreconcilable differences
after nearly ten years of marriage. While Levangie sought $1 million per month in child support, she was awarded $40,000. However, Grazer paid her a one-time $4.5million payment, as well as $8.75 million so that she could purchase their San Remo, Pacific Palisades home in her name solely. The marriage was dissolved on May 21, 2009. Grazer also had to pay $475,000 for legal fees, and $488,777 for retroactive support.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. She attended UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where she majored in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. Her Hollywood career began as an assistant to producer Fred Silverman
Fred Silverman
Fred Silverman is an American television executive and producer. He worked as an executive at the CBS, ABC and NBC networks, and was responsible for bringing to television such programs as the series Scooby-Doo , All in the Family , The Waltons , and Charlie's Angels , as well as the...
, who dissuaded her from attending law school by offering her a substantial raise and writing assignments for the television series In the Heat of the Night
In the Heat of the Night (TV series)
In the Heat of the Night is a television series based on the motion picture and novel of the same name. It was broadcast on NBC from 1988 until 1992, and then on CBS until 1995...
.
Author
Grazer is the author of four novels: Rescue Me (2000), Maneater (2003), and The Starter WifeThe Starter Wife
The Starter Wife is a 2007 USA Network television miniseries, based on the novel of the same name by Gigi Levangie Grazer. Its title is derived from the concept of a starter marriage...
(2006), which was adapted for a 2007 miniseries on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
. Its success led to a regular series
The Starter Wife (TV series)
The Starter Wife is a USA Network television series based on the miniseries by the same name, and based on the novel by Gigi Levangie Grazer. It premiered on October 10, 2008. The series stars Debra Messing as Molly Kagan, the now ex-wife of former studio executive Kenny Kagan...
that lasted one season. Her fourth novel, "Queen Takes King," was released in 2009.
According to Grazer's KTLA interview, none of these books are based on her real life, as she "has no time for any [of her heroines' exploits]" because of her children.
Screenwriter
Grazer's screenplay for the Susan SarandonSusan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon is an American actress. She has worked in films and television since 1969, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. She had also been nominated for the award for four films before that and has received other recognition for her...
-Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts
Julia Fiona Roberts is an American actress. She became a Hollywood star after headlining the romantic comedy Pretty Woman , which grossed $464 million worldwide...
film Stepmom
Stepmom (film)
Stepmom is a 1998 comedy-drama film directed by Chris Columbus and starring Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Harris.The film was a commercial success, but a moderate critical success.-Plot:...
was based on her experience dealing with husband Brian Grazer
Brian Grazer
Brian Thomas Grazer is an Academy Award-winning American film and television producer who co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 with Ron Howard. Together they have produced many acclaimed films, including Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind .- Career :Brian Grazer began his career as a producer...
's children Riley and Sage from his first marriage.
Television
Grazer is a host and judge for the Logo original series The ArrangementThe Arrangement (TV series)
The Arrangement is an American competitive reality television series featuring ten floral arrangers. The contestants face challenges in each episode to win the title of "America's Best Floral Designer" and win a prize package of a Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe and $25,000. The series began airing on...
, a floral arranging competition reality television series.
She has also appeared as a guest judge in Seasons 2 and 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo. RuPaul plays host, mentor and inspiration for this series, which details RuPaul's search for "America's next drag superstar."...
on Logo.
Personal life
In her 20s she was married to an "alluring Indian, Italian, African-American blues musician". They separated after three years and later divorced.She met Brian Grazer
Brian Grazer
Brian Thomas Grazer is an Academy Award-winning American film and television producer who co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 with Ron Howard. Together they have produced many acclaimed films, including Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind .- Career :Brian Grazer began his career as a producer...
by accident at Orlando-Orsini on Pico at a lunch with a Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
executive. They dated for six years and married on September 20, 1997. They have two sons together, Thomas (born November 15, 1999) and Patrick (born September 27, 2004). Two weeks after her novel The Starter Wife
The Starter Wife
The Starter Wife is a 2007 USA Network television miniseries, based on the novel of the same name by Gigi Levangie Grazer. Its title is derived from the concept of a starter marriage...
was published on April 4, 2006, Brian filed for legal separation
Legal separation
Legal separation is a legal process by which a married couple may formalize a de facto separation while remaining legally married. A legal separation is granted in the form of a court order, which can be in the form of a legally binding consent decree...
. The filing was just shy of their 10 year anniversary which would have increased Levangie's share of Brian's property because California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
is a community property
Community property
Community property is a marital property regime that originated in civil law jurisdictions and is now also found in some common law jurisdictions...
state. The two later reconciled; however Brian filed for divorce on June 8, 2007, citing irreconcilable differences
Irreconcilable differences
The concept of irreconcilable differences provides a possible ground for divorce in a number of jurisdictions.In Australian family law with no-fault divorce it is the sole ground, adequate proof being that the estranged couple have been separated more than 12 months.In the United States it can be...
after nearly ten years of marriage. While Levangie sought $1 million per month in child support, she was awarded $40,000. However, Grazer paid her a one-time $4.5million payment, as well as $8.75 million so that she could purchase their San Remo, Pacific Palisades home in her name solely. The marriage was dissolved on May 21, 2009. Grazer also had to pay $475,000 for legal fees, and $488,777 for retroactive support.