Born in Philadelphia, PA; educated at U. of North Carolina. A former stage actor long associated with the American Theatre Wing and the Actors Studio, he wrote sever plays (notably A Hole in the Head, 1957) and many teleplays, as well as scripts for features. He was nominated for Academy Awards for his screenplays for LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER (1963) and GOODBYE, COLUMBUS (1969). Other notable screenwriting credits include WILD IS THE WIND (1957), CIMARRON (1960), THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY'S (1968), TO FIND A MAN (1972), FUNNY LADY (1975), A CHORUS LINE (1985) and TUCKER: THE MAN AND HIS DREAM (1988). He fared poorly in two ventures as a producer (WON TON TON, THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD, 1976, and PLAYERS, 1979). His wrote and co-produced the 1993 TV AIDS drama "And the Band Played On," his last project.  Nominated for Writing (Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) 1963: LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) 1969: GOODBYE, COLUMBUS 2 nominations