Leigh Chapman Biography

Fast Facts

• Graduated from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S․C
• Began her screenwriting career in Los Angeles at the William Morris agency as a script transcriber
• Began her career as an actress, most notably appearing as Napoleon Solo's secretary Sarah Johnson in "The Man From U․N․C․L․E․"
• Sold her first TV script in 1964 for an episode of "Burke's Law" and went on to write for series like "My Favorite Martian" and "Mod Squad․"
• Quote: "My alter ego is male․ I decided early on that guys got to have all the fun․ Women don't interest me․"
• Quote: "I couldn't write a romantic comedy or a chick flick if my life depended on it․ I could write a love story, but it would have to be a 'Casablanca'-type of love story, and some people would have to die․"
• Best known as a screenwriter who wrote "Truck Turner" and "The Octagon" and co-wrote "Dirty Harry Crazy Mary․"
• In her later years, she took up scuba diving and underwater photography
• Was a self-described adrenaline junkie and spent her first paycheck as a professional writer in 1963 on a Corvette