MOVIE ON OPRAH WINFREY BEING MADE BASED ON BESTSELLING BIOGRAPHY BY KITTY KELLEY

LARRY A. THOMPSON, VETERAN HOLLYWOOD FILM PRODUCER, TO POSSIBLY CAST UNKNOWN TO PLAY OPRAH IN THE TELEVISION EVENT

News provided by

Larry A. Thompson Organization, Inc.

Jul 12, 2010, 02:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The life of Oprah Winfrey, one of the most famous and influential persons in the world, is being made into a movie. Larry A. Thompson, acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker, is basing his story on the recent biography, Oprah, written by investigative reporter and international bestselling author, Kitty Kelley, and published by Crown Publishers, a division of Random House.

"Oprah Winfrey's fascinating journey from rural Mississippi to the World Stage is packed with simple truths and complicated personalities," said Larry Thompson. "Kitty Kelley's extensively-researched book offers us the factual foundation to frame our cinematic portrait of this powerful and beloved Icon. Casting someone to play Oprah will be the real challenge. We are planning to audition both known and unknown actresses."

"Few Hollywood filmmakers are as experienced as Larry Thompson at understanding and dramatically exploring the emotional complexities of famous people," stated Kitty Kelley. "That's why I was pleased that he chose my book upon which to base his movie. Compelling biographies of great people must separate myth from fact and hype from truth."

Both Thompson and Kelley have extensive experience in the biographical arena of the world's most revered Icons. In addition to Oprah Winfrey, Kitty Kelley has written bestselling biographies on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, England's Royal Family, Nancy Reagan, and the Bush Family. Thompson has produced critically-acclaimed movies about Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz, Sonny & Cher, and The Duke & Duchess of Windsor. His latest movie, "Amish Grace" is the most-watched and highest-rated original movie in the history of Lifetime Movie Network.

The agreement with Larry A. Thompson Organization, Inc. for Kitty Kelley's book, Oprah A Biography, was negotiated by her agent, Wayne S. Kabak.

About Larry A. Thompson Organization, Inc.:

Larry A. Thompson Organization is a Los Angeles-based Motion Picture, Television, Talent Management, and New Media Production Studio. Larry A. Thompson, acclaimed Hollywood film producer, talent manager, attorney, author, and motivational speaker, is Founder and President. Visit www.LarryThompsonOrg.com and www.ProjectRiseandShine.com. Having managed the careers of over 200 Stars including William Shatner, Joan Rivers, Scott Hamilton, and David Hasselhoff, and having produced 19 Movies for Television, including CBS's "Lucy and Desi: Before The Laughter," ABC's "And The Beat Goes On: The Sonny and Cher Story," CBS's "The Woman He Loved," the Royal Romance of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, plus 5 Motion Pictures, 2 Television Series, 8 Television Specials, and various Series Pilots, Thompson has received the Industry's prestigious Vision Award and his productions have received Nominations for 8 Emmys, 6 Imagen Awards, 2 Prism Awards, and a Golden Globe. He is perennially listed in Who's Who In America and Who's Who In The World. IMDB For more info.

About Kitty Kelley:

Kitty Kelley is an internationally acclaimed author. All of her biographies have been best sellers, including Oprah A Biography; The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty; The Royals; Nancy Reagan; His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra; Elizabeth Taylor: The Last Star and Jackie Oh! The first five titles all debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestseller list. Kelley has been honored by her peers with such awards as the Outstanding Author Award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors for her "courageous writing on popular culture," and the 2005 PEN Oakland Literary Censorship Award. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, People, Ladies' Home Journal, McCall's, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her physician husband, Jonathan Zucker. http://www.kittykelleywriter.com/