Donald Spoto was an American biographer and theologian best best known for his books on Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and other high-profile entertainment figures. He also wrote about other subjects like Jesus and Joan of Arc. Spoto obtained a BA degree from Iona College in 1963 and his MA and PhD from Fordham University in 1966 and 1970, respectively. He began his career teaching theology, Christian mysticism, and Biblical literature at Fairfield University, at the College of New... moreDonald Spoto was an American biographer and theologian best best known for his books on Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and other high-profile entertainment figures. He also wrote about other subjects like Jesus and Joan of Arc. Spoto obtained a BA degree from Iona College in 1963 and his MA and PhD from Fordham University in 1966 and 1970, respectively. He began his career teaching theology, Christian mysticism, and Biblical literature at Fairfield University, at the College of New Rochelle, and later film studies at the New School for Social Research from 1966 to 1986. His writing career began in the 1970s where he wrote autobiographies of famous people in Hollywood. His work on St. Francis of Assisi was made into a television program of the same title, Reluctant Saint: Francis of Assisi. In 2012 he served as script consultant for The Girl a movie based on Spoto's books about Alfred Hitchcock. All in all Spoto wrote 29 books. He also served on a number of boards of directors of Human Rights Watch, Death Penalty Focus and the Children's Legal Protection Center.
