R.I.P. William Goldman

Writer and screenwriter William Goldman -- best known for his novel The Princess Bride and for his screenplays for such movies as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid -- shut down his word processor for the last time on November 16, 2018, at age 87.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Brian Clemens

English screenwriter and TV producer Brian Clemens -- most famous for his work on the British TV series The Avengers as well as for his work on such TV shows as The New Avengers and The Professionals -- signed off on his final script on January 10 at age 83.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Michele Serros

Mexican-American writer Michele Marie Serros -- AKA Michele Serros and best known for such books as Chicano Falsa and Other Stories of Death, Identity, and Oxnard and How to be a Chicana Role Model as well as for having been a writer for the ABC sitcom George Lopez for a single season -- finished the last chapter of her autobiography all too soon on January 4, 2015, at age 48.

She will be -- and should be -- missed.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Rod Serling!

AKA Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling.

Born December 25, 1924. Died June 28, 1975.

He was the creator of the classic TV series The Twilight Zone, a show for which he provided both scripts and narration. (Of course, he got a little help on the scripts). He also contributed to the TV series Night Gallery but I suspect he was more proud of his work on The Twilight Zone, where he had more creative control as opposed to his work on Night Gallery, where he had virtually little -- if any -- control over the fate of his scripts.

R.I.P. Glen A. Larson

American television producer and writer Glen A. Larson -- best known for creating such TV shows as the original Battlestar: Galactica and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries -- finished his last script on November 14 at age 77.

He will be missed.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Guillermo del Toro Gómez!

Born October 9, 1964.

He is a Mexican film director, producer, screenwriter and novelist who is most famous for such movies as Blade II, Cronos, Mimic, Pacific Rim and the Hellboy movies. He also did voicework for such films as Puss in Boots and Quantum of Solace.

The only bad thing about him is that he makes aspiring Mexican-American writers like me seem like lazy no-accounts but perhaps I should consider that a good thing. After all, everyone needs incentive.

R.I.P. Joan Rivers

American actress Joan Rivers -- best known for her guest appearances on Johnny Carson's old talk show The Tonight Show as well for her script for the 1973 TV movie The Girl Most Likely to... and for numerous other achievements -- chose to give her last punchline on September 4, 2014, at age 81.

She will be missed.

R.I.P. Paul Mazursky

Jewish-American actor, director and screenwriter Paul Mazursky -- best known for writing and directing such films as the 1970 comedy Bob 7 Carol & Ted & Alice and the 1974 road movie Harry and Tonto -- cried "Cut!" for the last time on June 30 at age 84.

He will be missed.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Guy Endore!

AKA Samuel Guy Endore as well as Samuel Goldstein* and Harry Relis.

Born July 4, 1900. Died February 12, 1970.

He was the author of The Werewolf of Paris as well as several other novels such as King of Paris and Voltaire! Voltaire!. I have yet to read a dull book that has been written by him though that may say more about me than about him. He also wrote or co-wrote a number of Hollywood screenplays. I am tempted to call him one of my favorite writers but lately it seems like every other person I read is one of my favorite writers so let's just say that I find him very interesting to read even when he is writing about a topic that is not so interesting.

* Birth name.

R.I.P. Ruby Dee

African-American actress, poet, playwright, journalist, screenwriter and civil rights activist Ruby Dee -- best known for her roles in such movies as the 1961 drama A Raisin in the Sun and the 2007 biographical crime film American Gangster as well as for being the recipient of Grammy, Emmy, Obie, Drama Desk, Screen Actors Guild and Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Awards and the National Medal of Arts -- went to see her late husband Ossie Davis on June 11 at age 91.

She will be missed.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Emilio Estevez!

Born May 12, 1962.

He is an American actor who is best known for being the son of actor Martin Sheen, an actor of Spanish and Irish descent, and the oldest brother of Charlie Sheen. He is also famous for such movies as Repo Man, The Breakfast Club and Stakeout. He has also done quite a bit of writing and directing.

R.I.P. Lorenzo Semple, Jr.

American screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr., best known for helping to create the 1960s TV series Batman as well as for having written the screenplays for The Parallax View, Three Days of the Condor and the 1976 remake of King Kong -- finished his last project Friday at age 91.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Harold Ramis

American actor, writer and director Harold Allen Ramis, most famous for his contributions to such movies as Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, Stripes and Groundhog Day, finished his final script yesterday at age 69.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Arthur Rankin Jr.

American director, writer and producer Arthur Gardner Rankin, Jr., who was most famous for forming Rankin/Bass Productions with his partner Jules Bass and for creating such stop-animation features as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, finished his last feature on January 30 at age 89.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Nora Ephron

Noted writer and director Nora Ephron -- most famous for her work on the 1993 Tom Hanks comedy Sleepless in Seattle -- dropped her last bon mot yesterday at age 71.

She will be missed.

R.I.P. Jimmy Sangster

Acclaimed Hammer film scribe Jimmy Sangster penned his last screamplay yesterday at age 83.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Arthur Laurents

Famed American playwright, director and screenwriter Arthur Laurents, best known for his work on the plays West Side Story and Gypsy as well as his screenplay for the 1973 film The Way We Were, surrendered to the Jets at age 93 on May 5.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Stephen J. Cannell

Writer and TV producer Stephen J. Cannell, creator of Jim Rockford and The Rockford Files, closed his last case yesterday at age 69. He will be missed.

R.I.P. Dan O'Bannon

Dan O'Bannon, former John Carpenter collaborator and writer of several classic sci-fi movies including Alien and Dark Star, got to the end of his final page yesterday.

He will be missed.

R.I.P. Larry Gelbert

Famous TV and movie screenwriter Larry Gelbert -- most famous for his work on the TV series M*A*S*H -- passed away this past Friday.

He will be missed.