Ernest Lehman

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.

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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.

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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.

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In 1972 Lehman directed his first and last film, Portnoy's Complaint. He basically retired from screenwriting in 1979, aside from some television projects.

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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.

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December 8: December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 23 days remaining....

1915: 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar)....

New York City: :This is an article about New York City; see also NYC, New York, New York (disambiguation) and New York....

Ernest Lehman related Images and Photos (experimental)

Ernest Borgnine	Sir Ernest Shackleton	Sir Ernest Shackleton	Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (DVD)
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway	Ernest Miller Hemingway American Writer	Portrait of Ernest Duez (1843-96) 1876	BTO David Lehman 1985
Ernest Hebert and Two Priests Standing in an Alley	.38 Special David Lehman 1989	Carla Thomas David Lehman 1991	Country Doctor Ernest Ceriani Making House Call on Foot in Small Town