Paddy Chayefsky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paddy Chayefsky
Circa 1972
Born	Sidney Aaron Chayefsky (1923-01-29)January 29, 1923 New York City, U.S.
Died	August 1, 1981(1981-08-01) (aged 58) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, New York
Alma mater	City College of New York (1943)
Occupation	Playwright novelist screenwriter
Years active	1944–1980
Spouse(s)	Susan Sackler Chayefsky ​ (m. 1949)​
Children	1

Sidney Aaron "Paddy" Chayefsky (January 29, 1923 – August 1, 1981) was an American writer. He wrote plays, movies, and novels. He is famous for being the only person to win three Academy Awards (Oscars) for writing movie scripts all by himself.

Paddy Chayefsky was a very important writer during the "Golden Age of Television" in the 1950s. He wrote realistic stories about the lives of everyday Americans. His style was called "slice of life" because it showed things just as they were.

After his successful TV shows, Chayefsky became a well-known writer for movies and books. He won three Academy Awards for his movie scripts: Marty (1955), The Hospital (1971), and Network (1976). Marty was based on his own TV show about two lonely people who find love. Network made fun of the TV industry, and The Hospital was also a funny, critical look at hospitals. Many people think Network is his best work.

Chayefsky's early stories were often inspired by his childhood in The Bronx. He was one of the first people to be honored in the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Television Hall of Fame in 1984, three years after he passed away.

Early Life and Military Service

Chayefsky as a senior in high school, 1939.

Sidney Chayefsky was born in the Bronx, New York City. His parents, Harry and Gussie Chayefsky, were immigrants from Russia. His father worked for a milk company and later owned it. The family moved around a bit, but always returned to the Bronx.

As a young child, Chayefsky was very smart and could speak well at a very young age. His family faced money problems during the Wall Street Crash of 1929, so they moved back to the Bronx. He went to public school and was known for his way with words. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School at 16 and then went to the City College of New York, where he studied social sciences.

Serving in the Army

In 1943, Paddy Chayefsky joined the United States Army and fought in Europe during World War II. While in the Army, he got the nickname "Paddy." He was hurt by a land mine in Germany and received a Purple Heart medal.

While recovering in a hospital in England, he wrote a musical comedy called No T.O. for Love. This show was performed for soldiers and later in London. This was the start of his career in theater.

Career Highlights

After the war, Chayefsky worked in a print shop, which later inspired some of his stories. He tried to become a screenwriter in Hollywood but found the studio system difficult. He didn't like how writers were treated, so he returned to New York.

In the late 1940s, he started writing short stories and radio scripts. He also wrote jokes for a radio host.

Starting in Television

In the early 1950s, Chayefsky began writing for television shows like Danger and Philco Television Playhouse. His first TV script was an adaptation of What Makes Sammy Run? in 1949.

He wrote many popular TV plays, including Holiday Song and The Bachelor Party. His play Middle of the Night was first shown on TV and later became a successful play on Broadway and then a movie.

Marty and Becoming Famous

Chayefsky in 1958

In 1953, Chayefsky wrote Marty for television. It was about a kind butcher from the Bronx who feels lonely but then meets a shy schoolteacher. The TV show was a big hit, and people loved Chayefsky's realistic writing.

A producer wanted to make Marty into a movie. Chayefsky insisted on having a lot of control over the film, including choosing the director and actors. He even had a small, unseen role in the movie.

The movie Marty won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 and also won the Academy Award for Best Picture. This made Chayefsky very famous and boosted his career.

Later Successes

After Marty, Chayefsky continued to write for TV, theater, and movies. His TV play The Bachelor Party and The Catered Affair were also made into films.

He wrote the movie The Goddess, which was about the rise and fall of a movie star. He also wrote two successful Broadway plays, The Tenth Man (1959) and Gideon (1961).

Chayefsky eventually stopped writing for television because he felt the networks weren't interested in good quality shows. This feeling later inspired his famous movie Network.

The Americanization of Emily

Chayefsky wrote the screenplay for The Americanization of Emily (1964). This movie was set during World War II and had an anti-war message. It starred James Garner and Julie Andrews, who both said it was their favorite film they worked on. Even though it got great reviews, it didn't do well at the box office, possibly because of its anti-war theme during the start of the Vietnam War.

Comeback with The Hospital

In the late 1960s, Chayefsky started thinking about a movie set in a hospital. He did a lot of research, reading medical books and visiting hospitals. He wanted to have full creative control over the film, so he created his own production company.

The movie, The Hospital (1971), had long speeches, which some people thought were too much. But Chayefsky, as the producer, made sure his vision was followed. The film received excellent reviews and was a box office success. Chayefsky won another Academy Award for his script, which helped his career bounce back.

Network

Chayefsky believed that TV news was making people less sensitive to violence. He got the idea for Network after a news anchor seemed to be saying silly things on air. He asked a friend, who was an NBC news anchor, if an anchorman could go crazy on TV, and his friend said, "Every day."

Chayefsky researched by watching many hours of TV and talking to news executives. The movie was a satire about the TV industry. It included the famous line, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" This line showed Chayefsky's strong feelings about how people should stand up for themselves.

Network was a huge success, both with critics and at the box office. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, and Chayefsky won his third Oscar for the script. This made him the only person to win three solo screenwriting Oscars. Many people say the film predicted the rise of reality television.

Altered States

After Network, Chayefsky worked on a project called Altered States (1980). This story explored a person's search for their true self, like a modern version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

He did a lot of research on genetics and human origins. He wrote a novel first, and then adapted it into a screenplay. Chayefsky had creative control over the film. However, he had disagreements with the director during filming. Because he was unhappy with how the movie was being made, he took his name off the credits and used a different name, Sidney Aaron.

Personality

Paddy Chayefsky was known for his strong personality. He was very focused and productive, and he wasn't afraid to argue for what he believed in. He was described as an "intellectual competitor" who loved a good debate. He had a "dual personality" – "Paddy" was his confident, swaggering side, and "Sidney" was the quiet, creative genius.

Family Life

Paddy Chayefsky married Susan Sackler in 1949. Their son, Dan, was born in 1955. Their marriage had its ups and downs, but Paddy remained married to Susan until his death. He often asked for her opinion on his screenplays. Susan Chayefsky passed away in 2000.

Death

Paddy Chayefsky became ill in 1980 and 1981. Tests showed he had cancer. He passed away in a New York hospital on August 1, 1981, at the age of 58. He was buried in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla.

His good friend, Bob Fosse, who was a famous choreographer and director, performed a tap dance at Chayefsky's funeral. This was part of a promise they had made to each other. Fosse later dedicated his last film, Star 80, to Chayefsky.

Filmography

• The True Glory (1945) (uncredited)
• As Young as You Feel (1951) (story)
• Marty (1955)
• The Catered Affair (1956)
• The Bachelor Party (1957)
• The Goddess (1958)
• Middle of the Night (1959)
• The Americanization of Emily (1964)
• Paint Your Wagon (1969) (adaptation)
• The Hospital (1971)
• Network (1976)
• Altered States (1980) (as "Sidney Aaron")

Television and Stage Plays

Television (selection)

• 1950–1955 Danger
• 1951–1952 Manhunt
• 1951–1960 Goodyear Playhouse
• 1952–1954 Philco Television Playhouse
• 1952 Holiday Song
• 1952 The Reluctant Citizen
• 1953 Printer's Measure
• 1953 Marty
• 1953 The Big Deal
• 1953 The Bachelor Party
• 1953 The Sixth Year
• 1953 Catch My Boy On Sunday
• 1954 The Mother
• 1954 Middle of the Night
• 1955 The Catered Affair
• 1956 The Great American Hoax

Stage

• No T.O. for Love (1945)
• Middle of the Night (1956)
• The Tenth Man (1959)
• Gideon (1961)
• The Passion of Josef D. (1964)
• The Latent Heterosexual (1968)

Novels

• Altered States: A Novel (1978)

Academy Awards

Images for kids

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  Paddy Chayefsky's grave in Kensico Cemetery

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  Ed Wynn and Kathleen Crowley in "The Great American Hoax" (1957)

See also

In Spanish: Paddy Chayefsky para niños