Abby Mann

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Abby Mann (December 1, 1927 – March 25, 2008) was an American film writer and producer.[1]

Born as Abraham Goodman in Philadelphia, he grew up in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was best known for his work on controversial subjects and social drama. His most famous work is the drama Judgment at Nuremberg, which was initially a television drama aired in 1959. Stanley Kramer directed the 1961 film adaptation, for which Mann received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. In his acceptance speech, he said:

"A writer worth his salt at all has an obligation not only to entertain but to comment on the world in which he lives."[2]

Mann later adapted the play for a 2001 production on Broadway, which featured Maximilian Schell from the 1961 film in a different role.[3]

Working on television, he most notably created the television series Kojak, starring Telly Savalas. Mann was executive producer, but was credited as a writer also on many episodes.[4] His other writing credits include the screenplays for the television films The Marcus-Nelson Murders, The Atlanta Child Murders,[5] Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story[6], and Indictment: The McMartin Trial,[7] as well as the film War and Love.[8]

He died of heart failure in Beverly Hills, California on March 25, 2008, aged 80.[9][10] He died one day after Richard Widmark, one of the stars of Judgment at Nuremberg.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ron Wertheimer, "The Sleeping Car Porter Who Won the Last Round". The New York Times, February 23, 2002.
  2. ^ Ron Weiskind and Barbara Vancheri, "Pittsburgh goes to the Oscars". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 9, 2003.
  3. ^ Bruce Weber, "On Evil and the Citizen, No Answers Are Easy". The New York Times, March 27, 2001.
  4. ^ "'Kojak' (1973)". Internet Movie Database
  5. ^ Sally Bedell Smith, "CBS Turning Cameras on its Decision-Makers". The New York Times, February 9, 1985.
  6. ^ John J. O'Connor, "Corruption, Love and Murder, All From Real Life". The New York Times, September 11, 1992.
  7. ^ John J. O'Connor, "The Horrors Behind The McMartin Trial". The New York Times, May 19, 1995.
  8. ^ Vincent Canby, "Screen: War and Love". The New York Times, September 13, 1985.
  9. ^ Obituary - Variety
  10. ^ Obituary - Los Angeles Times

[edit] External links

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