Angela Wales Kirgo, the long-time executive director of the Writers Guild Foundation, passed away at 78 in her native Sydney after a battle with cancer. She was a key figure in transforming the foundation into one of the entertainment industry's premier educational institutions.
A Legacy of Education and Exchange
Angela Wales Kirgo spent nearly two decades as executive director of the Writers Guild Foundation, overseeing the creation of the Shavelson-Webb Library, which now houses over 50,000 produced film and television scripts. This unparalleled resource grants access to the art and history of screenwriting, ensuring the voices and legacies of generations of writers are preserved.
During her tenure, Wales Kirgo increased fundraising at the foundation more than tenfold and dramatically expanded its oral history archive, public events, and other initiatives. Her efforts helped usher in the organization's modern era, as described by Oscar-winning screenwriter Tom Schulman, who served as president of the foundation from 1998-2002.
A Trailblazing Career
Born in Sydney in 1948, Wales Kirgo was the eldest of five children. Her family moved to a sheep farm near Walcha, New South Wales, where she spent her formative years. She attended the University of Sydney, graduating with a degree in English and Classics.
Wales Kirgo worked at the Cambridge University library in England and as a field archaeological assistant in Greece before returning to Sydney. She landed jobs at the Elizabethan Theatre Trust and the National Playwrights Conference, eventually joining the Australian Writers' Guild in 1979 as an administrator.
A Lifelong Connection to Australia
Wales Kirgo maintained deep ties to her home country throughout her career. She regularly brought distinguished American screenwriters to the National Screenwriters' Conference, fostering a creative exchange between the writing communities of both countries. With her husband, Emmy-winning writer and producer George Kirgo, she opened their Brentwood home to generations of visiting Australian writers.
After retiring in 2013, Wales Kirgo became a writer herself, publishing her memoir, Barefoot in the Bindis, a portrait of rural Australian life, in 2019. She moved back to Australia to care for her elderly mother, leaving behind a legacy of education and exchange that continues to inspire writers around the world.
A Legacy that Lives On
Wales Kirgo's passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes from the film and television industry. Former Writers Guild Foundation president and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Dan Petrie noted that Wales Kirgo "avoided the limelight, preferring to act behind the scenes, but all of us who worked with her sprang to attention when we heard her ringing Australian-accented voice."
As the Writers Guild Foundation continues to grow and evolve, Wales Kirgo's contributions will not be forgotten. Her commitment to education and exchange has left a lasting impact on the industry, and her legacy will continue to inspire writers for generations to come.
Source: Hollywood Reporter