Serling, Rod, 1924-1975

Rodman Edward Serling was born Dec. 25, 1924 in Syracuse, NY; served as paratrooper in 11th Airborne Division during WWII; discharged as a result of a shrapnel wound, 1946; attended Antioch College and began writing, directing, and acting in local radio plays; sold first television script in 1949; married wife Carol in 1948 and had two daughters; moved to Hollywood to write teleplays in mid-1950s; won 6 Emmy awards with scripts for Patterns, Requiem for a heavyweight, and The comedian, among others; was the first writer to be president of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; wrote many of the scripts for The twilight zone (1959-65), and served as its on-air host; wrote several screenplays, including Planet of the apes and Seven days in May; died June 28, 1975, after undergoing open-heart surgery.

Biography

Rodman Edward Serling was born December 25, 1924 in Syracuse, New York; served as paratrooper in 11th Airborne Division during World War II; discharged as a result of a shrapnel wound, 1946; attended Antioch College and began writing, directing, and acting in local radio plays; sold first television script in 1949; married wife Carol in 1948 and had two daughters; moved to Hollywood to write teleplays in mid-1950s; won 6 Emmy awards with scripts for Patterns, Requiem for a Heavyweight, and The Comedian, among others; was the first writer to be president of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; wrote many of the scripts for The Twilight Zone (1959-65), and served as its on-air host; wrote several screenplays, including Planet of the Apes and Seven Days in May ; died June 28, 1975, after undergoing open-heart surgery.