Abby Mann

Abby Mann (December 1, 1927, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – March 25, 2008, Beverly Hills, California) was an American screenwriter. Abby Mann, born to a Jewish family of Russian origin, grew up in Pittsburgh in a Catholic neighborhood on the city's east side. He began his professional career in th... More

Abby Mann (December 1, 1927, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – March 25, 2008, Beverly Hills, California) was an American screenwriter. Abby Mann, born to a Jewish family of Russian origin, grew up in Pittsburgh in a Catholic neighborhood on the city's east side. He began his professional career in the 1950s writing plays filmed for NBC. He co-wrote his first feature film for Anthony Young's 1956 film Port of Escape. However, it was in 1961 that he gained recognition for his screenplay for Stanley Kramer's Judgment at Nuremberg. The film was an international success, and Abby Mann won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. He subsequently worked for Vittorio De Sica, adapting Jean-Paul Sartre's play, The Convicted of Altona, starring Sophia Loren. In 1962, he returned to Stanley Kramer, who entrusted him with the writing of A Child Is Waiting, which was to be directed by John Cassavetes, then still a young director. The producer hired him again for Ship of Fools. In 1973, he left film to devote himself to television, writing scripts for television films and series. He notably created the character of Kojak for the television film The Marcus-Nelson Murders. The character would become the hero of the series that bears his name.