Huggins, Roy, 1914-2002

American screenwriter and television producer.

Biographical Note

Roy Huggins (July 18, 1914 – April 3, 2002) was an American novelist and writer/creator of film and television projects.

His crime novels were inspired by the writings of Raymond Chandler, and include "The Double Take" (1946); "Too Late For Tears" (1947) and "Lovely Lady, Pity Me" (1949).

Huggins made the transition to television in 1955 when he began working for Warner Bros. as a producer. He is best known for creating and writing for the popular television series: Maverick; The Fugitive; 77 Sunset Strip; The Rockford Files; and City of Angels. He was executive producer for television shows such as: "Alias Smith and Jones"; "Cool Million"; "Baretta" and "Hunter." He also made for television movies and miniseries such as "The Invasion of Johnson County" and "Captains and the Kings."

In September of 1952, Huggins was was summoned before the infamous U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to answer questions about his brief membership in the Communist Party. He continued to write under his own name, and under the name, "John Thomas James," combining the names of his three sons.

In 1960 he left Warner Bros. to work for 20th Century Fox as the Vice President in charge of television production, but soon left to pursue a Ph.D. at UCLA. However, he soon decided not to pursue a graduate degree, and went on to work as a vice president in the television division at Universal. At Universal he produced series, mini-series, and made for TV movies such as "The Virginian;" "Kraft Suspense Theater," and "Run For Your Life."