Doniger, Walter A.

Walter Doniger was a prominent American television and motion picture director, writer, and producer. Doniger was born in New York City on July 1, 1917. He graduated from Duke University in 1938 and from Harvard University's Graduate School of Business in 1940. Doniger started writing screenplays in the 1930s and earned his first screen writing credit in "Mob Town" (1941). During World War II, Doniger initially contributed to the American war effort as civilian consultant, producing instructional films for the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He later joined the U.S. Army Air Force, where he served a motion picture writer. Doniger resumed his screen writing career after the war and wrote screenplays for a number of movies, including "Rope of Sand" (1949) and "The Travelers" (1951). He started directing and producing movies in the mid 1950s and went on to direct and produce a number of films, including "The Steel Cage" (1954) and "Safe at Home" (1962). Doniger started working as a writer, director, and producer in television in mid 1950s. In this medium, he was best known for directing the popular television series "Peyton Place" (1964-1968), but he also utilized his writing, directing, and production talents on numerous other television shows, including "Tombstone Territory" (1957), "The Survivors" (1969), "Marcus Welby, M.D." (1969-1975), and "Shannon" (1981). He also directed several television movies, including "Braddock" (1968), "Mad Bull" (1977), and "Kentucky Woman" (1983). Walter Doniger married Elaine Osterman in 1941 and had one son, Thomas. He was an active member of the Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America.

From the guide to the Walter Doniger Papers, 1935-1989, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)

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