Jack E. Neuman; Award-Winning Hollywood Writer

Jack E. Neuman, 76, writer and producer for radio, television and film for half a century. Tom Stempel, film and TV historian and professor, in his book “History of Writing for Television,” quoted Neuman’s surprising and wry assessment of 1950s live television as “a boring medium.” Neuman wrote and produced for “Lux Video Theater” and the early police show “The Lineup” in that era. He also wrote for the classic series “The Untouchables” and “Bonanza.” In the 1960s, Neuman wrote the pilot for the popular medical series “Dr. Kildare” and the teacher series “Mr. Novak.” Adapting Joseph Wambaugh books into television movie scripts, he wrote “Police Story” and “Blue Knight,” both of which spun off into successful series. In the 1980s, Neuman won two Writers Guild awards for his adaptation of books into mini-series, “Inside the Third Reich” in 1982 and “Death in California” in 1985. Born in Toledo, Ohio, Neuman worked his way through law school writing scripts for radio shows including “Sam Spade” in the 1940s. His motion picture scripts included “The Venetian Affair” in 1967 and “Company of Killers” in 1970. On Thursday in Los Angeles of heart failure.