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Ernest Lehman

Birth Name:
Ernest Paul Lehman
Birth Place:
New York City, New York, United States
Profession
Writer, Producer, Soundtrack, Director

Fast Facts

  • Became the first screenwriter to receive an honorary Oscar in 2001
  • Recipient of an Edgar Award handed out by the Mystery Writers of America in 1960 for his writing for "North by Northwest"
  • Served as the president of the Writers Guild of America's West division in the mid 1980s
  • Best known for his collaborative period with Alfred Hitchcock which started in the late '50s, culminating in one of his biggest hits, "North by Northwest"
  • Worked a wide array of jobs while starting out in the business including radio comedy writer, copywriter for a Broadway publicist and editor of a financial magazine, among others
  • Reportedly tried to climb Mount Rushmore while writing "North by Northwest", but was convinced to climb down after making it halfway up
  • Fathered a child with his second wife at age 86

Awards

  • 1955Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay:Nominated
  • 1955Golden Globe - Best Screenplay:Winner
  • 1955WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Comedy:Winner
  • 1955WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Drama:Nominated
  • 1956NYFCC Award - Best Screenplay:Nominated
  • 1957WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Musical:Winner
  • 1957WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Drama:Nominated
  • 1960Oscar - Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen:Nominated
  • 1960Edgar - Best Motion Picture:Winner
  • 1960WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Comedy:Nominated
  • 1962Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
  • 1962WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Musical:Winner
  • 1966WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Musical:Winner
  • 1967Oscar - Best Picture:Nominated
  • 1967Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
  • 1967Golden Globe - Best Screenplay:Nominated
  • 1967WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Drama:Winner
  • 1970Oscar - Best Picture:Nominated
  • 1977Edgar - Best Motion Picture:Winner
  • 1977WGA Award (Screen) - Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium:Nominated
  • 1978Edgar - Best Motion Picture:Nominated
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