Phillips Exeter Academy

Phillips Exeter Academy (also called Exeter or PEA) is a co-educational independent boarding school located on 471 acres (1.9 km²) in Exeter, New Hampshire, USA, one hour north of Boston.

Books or movies with portrayals of Exeter alumni, students, or staff

May fictional characters are indicated to have graduated from Exeter. This is usually because of the connotations associated with the prestige and affluence associated with the school and its alumni. Also, in many cases, the author or writer is himself an Alumnus.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• A Separate Peace - This novel by John Knowles is set at "Devon," a thinly-veiled fictionalization of Exeter, in the summer of 1943.
• Tea and Sympathy - This play by Robert Anderson (later a movie as well) treats the inner struggles of an Exeter student.
• Trading Places - Stockbroker Louis Winthorpe III, played by Dan Aykroyd, is mentioned to be an Exeter alumnus.
• American Psycho - In the book by Bret Easton Ellis, Patrick Bateman, the main character, is mentioned to be an Exeter alumnus.
• The Birdcage - Calista Flockhart plays an Exeter alumnus.
• Bringing Down the House - Kevin Lewis, the main character is mentioned to be an Exeter alumnus.
• A Widow for One Year - In this novel by John Irving, the two main characters are Exeter alumni. Part of this book was later adapted for the movie The Door in the Floor.
• A Prayer for Owen Meany - In this novel by John Irving, the protagonist/narrator, John Wheelwright, and his best friend, Owen Meany, are both day students at Exeter. Owen writes a popular column in the Exonian called "The Voice," which is critical of the school administration and the Vietnam war, among other topics. Part of this book was later adapted for the movie Simon Birch, though none of the Exeter parts made it into the film.
• The World According to Garp - In this novel by John Irving, the protagonist/narrator, T.S. Garp, is the illegitimate, only child of Jenny Fields, the school nurse at "Steering School," Irving's fictionalized name for Exeter. Young Garp grows up in Steering's infirmary, eventually attending the school and joining its wrestling team. The book was adapted into a screenplay for the film of the same name, starring Robin Williams and Glenn Close, and featuring a cameo by the author as a wrestling referee.
• A Beautiful Mind - John Nash's roommate jokingly asks the future Nobel Laureate if he had not been fortunate enough to go to Exeter or Andover.
• The Skulls - Two of the main characters at Yale University are mentioned to have met while at Exeter.
• The Emperor's Club - The school mottos of Exeter (and Andover) are used during the opening assembly.
• The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons - Both the author, Dan Brown, and the fictional protagonist, Robert Langdon, are Exeter alumni.
• Soul Man - The movie features a shot of Jeremiah Smith Hall, intended to be a part of Harvard University campus.
• Six Degrees of Separation - Characters in the movie described as having attended Exeter and Andover.
• Smallville - Lex Luthor in the WB television series Smallville was noted as attending Exeter. Also, a headmaster from Exeter suspiciously transfers to be the Principal of Smallville High, a step down in both pay and prestige.
• The Rule of Four - one of the main four friends is an Exeter graduate.