Summertime means blockbuster movies! Memoirs are a great way to get to know your favorite actor or director – and how their lives shaped their performances on the big screen.
We’ve rounded up some of the most popular memoirs and autobiographies from Hollywood’s hottest. Even better, pair a star’s biography with a movie!
Browse the biographies and memoirs shelf in cloudLibrary for even more titles.
All About Me: My Remarkable Life in Show Business by Mel Brooks
One of Hollywood’s comedy legends! Mel Brooks’ memoir is laugh-out-loud funny while sharing the inspiration behind some of his most boundary-breaking films. You also get to hear about the close friendships and collaborations he enjoyed with talented folks like Carl Reiner, Gene Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock, and more.
Love Mel Brooks movies? Borrow one from the library:
The Beauty of Living Twice by Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone was one of the most renowned actresses in the world until a stroke damaged her health, career, family and fame. This memoir chronicles her journey on the slow road back to wholeness and health.
Enjoy Sharon Stone? Borrow one of her films:
The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard
Written by filmmaker and producer Ron Howard, this book delves into an upbringing that seemed normal to Ron and his actor brother, Clint, yet was anything but.
Films directed by Ron Howard:
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey’s bestseller is an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.
After you read book, borrow a Matthew McConaughey movie:
Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews
This bestseller is the follow-up to her first memoir, Home, which detailed Julie Andrews’ difficult childhood and early years on the stage. Home Work picks up the story in Hollywood, where she had a meteoric rise to fame after Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. She describes her time making these now-classic films but also the times she struggled to adjust to the demands of Hollywood and her newfound fame.
Want even more? Enjoy a classic Julie Andrews movie:
Just As I Am: A Memoir by Cicely Tyson
Academy, Tony, and three-time Emmy Award-winning actor Cicely Tyson tells the story of her six-decade career and life. Written in frank prose that reflects honestly on the racism and sexism she faced, this book is shares the progress that has been made and how far is left to go.
Movies and television shows starring Cicely Tyson:
Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption and Hollywood by Danny Trejo
Actor Danny Trejo struggled with heroin addiction and spent time in notorious state prisons. His autobiography reveals how he rebuilt himself after finding sobriety and spirituality and draws inspiration from his own past for the film roles that make him a household name today.
Movies featuring Danny Trejo:
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story by Simu Liu
Simu Liu, the star of Marvel’s first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, shares his own origin story and how he embarked on a journey that took him into the world of show business.
