Hollywood screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz has died from complications due to pancreatic cancer. He was 68.
Mankiewicz, the son of legendary screenwriter Joseph L. Mankiewicz, started his career in New York. His book for the 1970 musical adaptation of Georgy Girl caught the attention of Bond producer Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli. Broccoli would hire Mankiewicz to do a rewrite on 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever.
Mankiewicz would return to the Bond franchise, writing full scripts on Live and Let Die and The Man With the Golden Gun and doing rewrites on The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker.
in 1978, Mankiewicz was tapped to do a rewrite on Superman and Superman II. He worked on the project for a year and due to Writers Guild of America rules was credited as a “creative consultant” instead of a screenwriter. Mankiewicz would work with Donner again on 1985’s Ladyhawke.
Mankiewicz also worked behind the scenes as a director, writing and directing the 1987 film adaptation of Dragnet and directing the 1991 John Candy vehicle Delirious.
On the small screen, Mankiewicz co-wrote and directed the pilot episode of Hart to Hart and acted as a creative consultant through the series’ run.
