Ellis, Bret Easton

American writer, the oldest of three siblings born and raised in a wealthy family at Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. Ellis's father was a property developer. His childhood was very much affected by his parents' drawn-out divorce. Ellis read creative writing at Bennington College, Vermont, and graduated with a BA in 1986. At university he befriended Donna Tartt and Jonathan Lethem. Ellis wrote his debut novel during his first year at Bennington. After university he lived in New York for a few years. He now lives in Los Angeles.