Famous Like Me > Writer > L > Ernest Lehman
Profile of Ernest Lehman
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| Name: |
Ernest Lehman |
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| Date of Birth: |
8th December 1915 |
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| Place of Birth: |
New York, New York, USA |
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| Profession: |
Writer |
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From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia
Ernest Lehman (born December 8, 1915 in New York City - died July 2, 2005 in Los Angeles, California ) was a successful screenwriter in Hollywood. He received 6 Academy Award nominations during his screenwiting career. In 2001 he received an honorary Oscar for his works, the first screenwriter to receive that honor.
Lehman was born into a wealthy Long Island family whose fortunes were seriously affected by the Great Depression. Upon his graduation from College of the City of New York, Lehman became a freelance writer. Lehman felt that freelancing was a "very nervous way to make a living" so he began writing copy for a publicity firm which focused on plays and celebrities. This experience helped form the basis of his 1957 film The Sweet Smell of Success, which he co-wrote with Clifford Odets. Lehman churned out a slew of short stories and novellas for magazines like Colliers, Redbook and Cosmopolitan. These attracted the attention of Hollywood and in the mid-1950's Paramount Pictures signed him to a writing contract. His first film, Executive Suite, was a success and he was asked to colloborate on the romantic comedy Sabrina, which also became a hit.
Lehman was among a distinct few in Hollywood who had faith in a film adaptation of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? He managed to persuade studio executive Jack Warner and the stark film was a critical sensation, garnering many Academy Award nominations. Unfortunately, his next film, 1969's Hello, Dolly! was a flop.
In 1972 Lehman directed his first and last film, Portnoy's Complaint. He basically retired from screenwriting in 1979, aside from some television projects.
Lehman died at UCLA Medical Center after a prolonged illness. He was survived by a wife, Laurie, and his son Jonathan, as well as two sons (Roger and Alan) from his first marriage.
Writing credits
- The King and I (1956)
- North by Northwest (1959)
- The Sound of Music (1965)
- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
External link
- Ernest Lehman at the Internet Movie Database
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