Born in Philadelphia, PA. Screenwriter who was blacklisted during the 1950s and 60s. Wrote the stories or screenplays (alone or in collaboration) for DECOY (1946), PASSAGE WEST (1951), JAILHOUSE ROCK (1957), THE DEFIANT ONES (1958), INHERIT THE WIND (1960), and SHADOW ON THE LAND (1968). Also acted (sometimes as "Ned Young", sometimes uncredited) in a over 20 features from 1943 until 1966; e.g., DEAD MEN WALK and BOMBS OVER BURMA (both 1943), GAY BLADES and THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND (both 1946), CALAMITY JANE AND SAM BASS (1948), DEADLY IS THE FEMALE (1950), RETREAT, HELL!, SPRINGFIELD RIFLE and ALADDIN AND HIS LAMP (all 1952), HOUSE OF WAX, CAPTAIN SCARLETT, SO THIS IS LOVE and THE EDDIE CANTOR STORY (all 1953), CRIME WAVE (1954), THE DEFIANT ONES and TERROR IN A TEXAS TOWN (both 1958), and SECONDS (1966).

Nominated for Writing (Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) 1958: THE DEFIANT ONES (originally nominated as "Nathan E. Douglas," w. Harold Jacob Smith)  Writing (Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) 1960: INHERIT THE WIND (originally nominated as "Nathan E. Douglas," w. Harold Jacob Smith) 2 nominations, 1 Award