Max Shulman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Max Shulman
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| Born | Maximilian Shulman March 14, 1919 Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Died | August 28, 1988 (aged 69) Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Writer and humorist |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
| Notable works | Dobie Gillis character, in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and other works |
| Spouse | Carol S. Rees (1941–1963, her death) Mary Gordon Bryant (1964–1988, his death) |
| Children | 5, including Martha Rose Shulman |
Maximilian Shulman (born March 14, 1919 – died August 28, 1988) was an American writer. He was known for his funny stories and for creating the popular character Dobie Gillis. Max Shulman wrote many best-selling novels and worked on television shows.
About Max Shulman
Early Life and First Books
Max Shulman was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. His parents, Abraham and Bessie, came from Belarus.
He went to the University of Minnesota. While there, he wrote for the school newspaper and a humor magazine. His writing made fun of college life in a funny way.
After he graduated in 1942, a book agent saw his work. This led to his first book, Barefoot Boy With Cheek, in 1943. It was a big hit! Later, in 1947, he even helped turn this book into a musical.
Famous Stories and TV Shows
Max Shulman wrote many other novels. Some of these include Rally Round the Flag, Boys!, The Feather Merchants, and Potatoes are Cheaper. Rally Round the Flag, Boys! was even made into a movie. It starred famous actors like Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
In 1954, he helped write a play for Broadway called The Tender Trap. This play was later made into a movie. It featured stars like Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds.
One of Max Shulman's most famous creations was the college student character, Dobie Gillis. Dobie first appeared in a collection of short stories called The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. These stories became the basis for a 1953 movie, The Affairs of Dobie Gillis.
Then, in 1959, Dobie Gillis got his own CBS television series. It was called The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and ran until 1963. Max Shulman wrote scripts for the show. He also wrote the words for the show's catchy theme song.
He also wrote a funny newspaper column called "On Campus." It was printed in over 350 college newspapers!
Later in his career, Max Shulman worked on the movie House Calls (1978). This movie then became a popular TV series from 1979 to 1982. Max Shulman was the main writer for the TV show.
His Family
Max Shulman was married twice. He had four children with his first wife, Carol S. Rees. He had one child with his second wife, Mary Gordon Bryant. His daughter, Martha Rose Shulman, is a well-known author who writes cookbooks.
Max Shulman passed away on August 28, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. He was 69 years old.
