Born in Staten Island, New York City; educated at Harvard University (Irish literature). Writer for television whose only feature film credit is WITNESS, for which he received an Academy Award. Writing credits for TV include "Route 66," "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza," "Kung Fu," "Petrocelli," "How the West Was Won" (1978 mini-series), "The Winds of Kitty Hawk," "The Demon Murder Case" and "The Blue Lightning."  Writing (Best Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1985: WITNESS (w. Earl W. Wallace & Pamela Wallace) 1 nomination, 1 Award