Playwright, Screenwriter, Artist. He will be best remembered for co-penning "Stalag 17" which became a successful Broadway production and motion picture adaptation. Raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, his father was an engineer whom became a victim of "the Depression," Donald had a fondness for drawing and following high school graduation, he enrolled at the Grand Central School of Art in Manhattan. During World War II, he served with the United States Army Air Force as a waist gunner. His plane was shot down over Germany and he would spend the remainder of the war in a prisoner of war camp. During this time period, Bevan along with Edmund Trzcinski entertained his fellow captives by putting on sketched stage shows. Following the war, Bevan collaborated with Trzcinski to yield "Stalag 17" for which was influenced by their experience as prisoners of war and the result was a successful Broadway production (1951 to 1952). It was made into a motion picture adaptation in 1953 (Bevan contributed to the screenplay) and earned William Holden an Academy Award for Best Actor. Additionally, Bevan went onto have a lengthy association with Sardi's Restaurant in New York for which was frequented by many of Hollywood's most known. Bevan served as a caricaturist whom produced distinguishable images of celebrities for which adorned the establishment's walls. He was married to actress Patricia Kirkland and was the son-in-law of playwright Jack Kirkland ("Tobacco Road").
Playwright, Screenwriter, Artist. He will be best remembered for co-penning "Stalag 17" which became a successful Broadway production and motion picture adaptation. Raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, his father was an engineer whom became a victim of "the Depression," Donald had a fondness for drawing and following high school graduation, he enrolled at the Grand Central School of Art in Manhattan. During World War II, he served with the United States Army Air Force as a waist gunner. His plane was shot down over Germany and he would spend the remainder of the war in a prisoner of war camp. During this time period, Bevan along with Edmund Trzcinski entertained his fellow captives by putting on sketched stage shows. Following the war, Bevan collaborated with Trzcinski to yield "Stalag 17" for which was influenced by their experience as prisoners of war and the result was a successful Broadway production (1951 to 1952). It was made into a motion picture adaptation in 1953 (Bevan contributed to the screenplay) and earned William Holden an Academy Award for Best Actor. Additionally, Bevan went onto have a lengthy association with Sardi's Restaurant in New York for which was frequented by many of Hollywood's most known. Bevan served as a caricaturist whom produced distinguishable images of celebrities for which adorned the establishment's walls. He was married to actress Patricia Kirkland and was the son-in-law of playwright Jack Kirkland ("Tobacco Road").
Bio by: C.S.
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