Larry Jeff McMurtry was an American novelist, essayist, and screenwriter whose work was predominantly set in either the Old West or contemporary Texas. His renowned novels include Horseman, Pass By (1962), The Last Picture Show (1966), and Terms of Endearment (1975), all of which were adapted into successful films. These adaptations earned a remarkable 34 Oscar nominations with 13 wins.

McMurtry was also a passionate book collector and bookseller. His 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Lonesome Dove became a celebrated television miniseries, garnering 18 Emmy Award nominations and winning seven. The subsequent novels in his Lonesome Dove series were adapted into three more miniseries, earning eight additional Emmy nominations.

Together with co-writer Diana Ossana, McMurtry adapted the screenplay for Brokeback Mountain (2005), which secured eight Academy Award nominations, winning three, including Best Adapted Screenplay for McMurtry and Ossana. In 2014, his contributions to literature were honored with the National Humanities Medal.

In a 2023 biography by Tracy Daugherty, critic Dave Hickey reflects on McMurtry's dedication to writing, likening him to a "critter" who naturally gravitates towards his craft.