George Axelrod was born on June 9, and was a notable American screenwriter and producer, recognized for his impactful contributions to film and theater. His most famous work, the play The Seven Year Itch (1952), was adapted into a successful film starring Marilyn Monroe. Axelrod earned an Academy Award nomination for his adaptation of Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) and also adapted Richard Condon's The Manchurian Candidate.
Born in New York City to Beatrice Carpenter, a silent film actress, and Herman Axelrod, who was involved in real estate, Axelrod had a diverse heritage with a Russian Jewish father and a mother of Scottish and English descent. He fathered four children, including lawyer Peter Axelrod and actress Nina Axelrod, and was the grandfather of actor Taliesin Jaffe.
Axelrod began his career in summer stock theater as a stage manager and actor before serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. Upon returning, he wrote for various radio programs, including The Shadow and Midnight, transitioning into television with over 400 credited scripts. Notable comedians like Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin were among those for whom he wrote.
The Seven Year Itch debuted on Broadway on July 15, 1952, and its success led to the 1955 film adaptation directed by Billy Wilder, where the plot was altered to depict the husband’s fantasies instead of an actual affair. Axelrod's follow-up success was Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1955), a Faustian comedy that starred Jayne Mansfield, but he was disappointed by the film adaptation that deviated from his original story.
In the late 1950s to early 1960s, Axelrod continued to make a name for himself with the comic play Goodbye Charlie, starring Lauren Bacall, and its subsequent film version with Debbie Reynolds. During this period, Axelrod was among Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriters. His adaptation of The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is particularly lauded, and despite its initial removal from circulation post-JFK's assassination, it regained acclaim in 1988.
Axelrod’s other works include the original screenplay for How to Murder Your Wife (1965) and directorial efforts in Lord Love a Duck (1966) and The Secret Life of an American Wife (1968). After a hiatus, he contributed to a remake of The Lady Vanishes (1979) and later worked on scripts for The Holcroft Covenant (1985) and The Fourth Protocol (1987).
In addition to screenwriting, Axelrod published three novels: Blackmailer (1952), a darkly comedic mystery; Beggar's Choice (1947), a comedy about role reversal; and Where Am I Now When I Need Me? (1971), humorously exploring Hollywood life. George Axelrod passed away on June 21, 2003, at the age of 81, after a prolonged illness, leaving a significant legacy in American cinema and theater. His body was cremated following his death at home in Los Angeles.
Axelrod began his career in summer stock theater as a stage manager and actor before serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. Upon returning, he wrote for various radio programs, including The Shadow and Midnight, transitioning into television with over 400 credited scripts. Notable comedians like Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin were among those for whom he wrote.
The Seven Year Itch debuted on Broadway on July 15, 1952, and its success led to the 1955 film adaptation directed by Billy Wilder, where the plot was altered to depict the husband’s fantasies instead of an actual affair. Axelrod's follow-up success was Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1955), a Faustian comedy that starred Jayne Mansfield, but he was disappointed by the film adaptation that deviated from his original story.
In the late 1950s to early 1960s, Axelrod continued to make a name for himself with the comic play Goodbye Charlie, starring Lauren Bacall, and its subsequent film version with Debbie Reynolds. During this period, Axelrod was among Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriters. His adaptation of The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is particularly lauded, and despite its initial removal from circulation post-JFK's assassination, it regained acclaim in 1988.
Axelrod’s other works include the original screenplay for How to Murder Your Wife (1965) and directorial efforts in Lord Love a Duck (1966) and The Secret Life of an American Wife (1968). After a hiatus, he contributed to a remake of The Lady Vanishes (1979) and later worked on scripts for The Holcroft Covenant (1985) and The Fourth Protocol (1987).
In addition to screenwriting, Axelrod published three novels: Blackmailer (1952), a darkly comedic mystery; Beggar's Choice (1947), a comedy about role reversal; and Where Am I Now When I Need Me? (1971), humorously exploring Hollywood life. George Axelrod passed away on June 21, 2003, at the age of 81, after a prolonged illness, leaving a significant legacy in American cinema and theater. His body was cremated following his death at home in Los Angeles.
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