Paddy Chayefsky

Paddy Chayefsky ( born January 29, 1923 in New York; † August 1, 1981 ) was an American author and composer.

Life and work

Paddy Chayefsky wrote primarily for television and film, but also wrote some works for the stage. He dramatized especially the milieu of the socially deprived Jews of New York, often undertook a special accentuation of religious themes. Chayefsky is in the literary tradition of Clifford Odets and Arthur Miller, his political burlesque " The Passion of Joseph D. " about Joseph Stalin has clear references to the style of Bertolt Brecht on.

Awards (selection)

Chayefsky once won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Marty (1956 ) and twice the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Hospital ( 1972) and Network ( 1976). Taken together these two categories achieved this feat only Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder. However, Chayefsky the only one of the four, who thus won Prices solo, with no co-authors. He also won two Golden Globes and a BAFTA Award.

Filmography (selection)

Stage plays