Director George Roy Hill and screenwriter Steve Tesich teamed to brilliantly adapt "Garp" in 1982, and Robin Williams surprised everyone as the titular character, informing the world he was much more than Mork (from Ork). Unfortunately, the absorbing mix of absurdist humor and social observation missed at the box office, despite top-notch acting across the board, including Irving's cameo as a wrestling referee. Tony Richardson's adaptation of "The Hotel New Hampshire" (1984) may have fallen short of "Garp", but it was still heads above the disappointing "Simon Birch" (1998), "suggested by" the author's "A Prayer for Owen Meany". When the first-time screenwriter, thanks to director Lasse Hallstrom and producer Richard Gladstein, finally brought a very personal story inspired in part by the life and work of his doctor grandfather to the screen, "The Cider House Rules" managed to promote both abortion rights and family values, treading in the gray light of tolerance instead of embracing the black-or-white fanaticism on either side of the sensitive issue. Irving earned a Best Adapted Screenplay for his efforts.