Deric Washburn

Deric Washburn is an American screenwriter.

He graduated from Harvard College in 1959. He began his career as a playwright, writing the off-Broadway plays *Ginger Anne* and *The Love Nest*.

He is best known for writing the original screenplay of *The Deer Hunter*, after co-writing the story with Michael Cimino, with whom he had previously collaborated on the 1971 science fiction film *Silent Running*. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978.

Washburn and Cimino spent three days writing the story, and then Washburn spent a month writing the script. Cimino later attempted to deny him screenwriting credit. Washburn pursued arbitration and was awarded full credit.