Screenwriter. He was a German-born American screenwriter, whose credits include "The Dirty Dozen" in 1967, "Flight of the Phoenix" in 1965, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" in 1962 and "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" in 1964. For " Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte," he was a co-recipient of the Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture, which is presented my Mystery Writers of America. The film "The Dirty Dozen" led to three television sequels: "The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission" in 1988, "The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission" in 1987,and "The Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission" in 1985. He is credited with writing 26 films, often adapting a best-selling novel to a film. Born the only son in a Jewish family in Germany, his father was legal scholar and political author Dr. Hermann Heller. After Adolph Hitler's National Socialist regime came to power in Germany in 1933 with persecution of the Jewish population, his family escaped in exile to Spain. His father died in Madrid at age 42 while in exile. His mother was Gertrud Falke, a professional expressive dancer. With him, his mother and sisters relocated to London after the war. Though he started in England with his profession, the majority of his work was done in the United States. Several of his films were based on World War II including the made-for-television film, "Hitler's S.S.: Portrait in Evil" in 1985 and the film "Son of Hitler" in 1979.
Screenwriter. He was a German-born American screenwriter, whose credits include "The Dirty Dozen" in 1967, "Flight of the Phoenix" in 1965, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" in 1962 and "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" in 1964. For " Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte," he was a co-recipient of the Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture, which is presented my Mystery Writers of America. The film "The Dirty Dozen" led to three television sequels: "The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission" in 1988, "The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission" in 1987,and "The Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission" in 1985. He is credited with writing 26 films, often adapting a best-selling novel to a film. Born the only son in a Jewish family in Germany, his father was legal scholar and political author Dr. Hermann Heller. After Adolph Hitler's National Socialist regime came to power in Germany in 1933 with persecution of the Jewish population, his family escaped in exile to Spain. His father died in Madrid at age 42 while in exile. His mother was Gertrud Falke, a professional expressive dancer. With him, his mother and sisters relocated to London after the war. Though he started in England with his profession, the majority of his work was done in the United States. Several of his films were based on World War II including the made-for-television film, "Hitler's S.S.: Portrait in Evil" in 1985 and the film "Son of Hitler" in 1979.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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