William Froug facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Froug
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| Born | May 26, 1922 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Died | August 25, 2013 (aged 91) Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
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| Occupation | Radio writer-producer, Television writer-producer, author, professor |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
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.svg){kind=small} United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank |  LTJG |
William Froug (born May 26, 1922 – died August 25, 2013) was an American writer and producer for television. He helped create many popular TV shows. Some of the famous series he produced include The Twilight Zone, Gilligan's Island, and Bewitched.
William Froug also wrote for shows like Charlie's Angels. He wrote several books about how to write for movies and TV. One of his students, Dan O'Bannon, even put a fun reference to Froug in the 1974 movie Dark Star.
Contents
Growing Up in Arkansas
William Froug was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1922. He was adopted by William and Rita Froug. He grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. Later, his family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He finished high school in Little Rock in 1939. His grandfather's old home is now a historic landmark. It is near the Governor's Mansion in Little Rock.
Education and Military Service
Froug went to the Missouri School of Journalism. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1943. After college, he joined the U.S. Navy. He became an officer after training at Columbia University. He served on a subchaser ship in Pearl Harbor. In 1945, he took command of his own ship, the USS PC800.
A Career in Writing and Producing
Starting in Radio and TV
After leaving the Navy in 1946, Froug began his writing career. He sold his first story to a magazine that same year. He then started writing for radio. By 1956, he was a Vice President at CBS Radio in Hollywood. He produced a famous radio version of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. This show is considered one of the best radio programs ever.
He then moved into television. In 1958, he won an Emmy Award for his work on the Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre. He was also nominated for other awards for shows like Mr. Novak and The Twilight Zone.
Iconic TV Shows
As a writer and producer, Froug worked on many classic TV series. These included Adventures in Paradise, The Twilight Zone, Bewitched, and Gilligan's Island. A famous writer, James Michener, even praised a script Froug wrote for Adventures in Paradise.
Millions of people watched the shows he worked on. He wrote over 200 scripts for other series. Some of these were Bonanza, Quincy M.E., and Charlie's Angels. A TV pilot he produced, Adam's Rib, is now part of a museum collection in New York.
Froug was nominated for another Emmy for Bewitched. He later became an executive producer at CBS. He also started teaching at film schools. In 1987, he received the Valentine Davies Award. This award honors writers who have made a big impact.
Teaching and Books
Shaping Future Writers
William Froug became a professor at UCLA. He improved their screenwriting program. He taught advanced classes to students. In 1976, he told the Los Angeles Times that it was very hard to become a successful screenwriter. He taught hundreds of students at USC and UCLA. He believed only a small number would make a career in film. Froug retired from UCLA in 1987.
Author and Legacy
Froug wrote many books about screenwriting. These books were used as textbooks in film schools worldwide. One author called Froug's book Screenwriting Tricks of the Trade one of the best screenwriting books ever.
In 2011, Froug was recognized as an Emmy Legend of Television. His interviews are available online. The UCLA Film and Television Archives keep many of his scripts and interviews.
Personal Life
William Froug was active in politics and social causes. He served on the boards of the Writers Guild of America, West and the Producers Guild of America. He also helped start "The Caucus for Producers, Writers and Directors." He passed away in August 2013 in Sarasota, Florida, at the age of 91.
The famous film critic Roger Ebert once wrote about William Froug. He said Froug was a very smart and helpful writer. Ebert admired how Froug stayed sharp and continued to write.
