Mann Rubin obit

Screenwriter Mann Rubin Dies at 86

He wrote the adapted screenplays for the films "The Best of Everything" and "The First Deadly Sin" as well as dozens of TV episodes. 

He was not on the list.

Mann Rubin, a veteran film and television writer who co-wrote the screenplay for the 1959 melodrama The Best of Everything, died Oct. 12 in West Hills, Calif., after a long illness. He was 86.

Rubin also adapted Lawrence Sanders‘ novel for the crime thriller The First Deadly Sin (1980), starring Frank Sinatra in his last major film role, and adapted Norman Mailer‘s book for the drama An American Dream (1966), starring Stuart Whitman and Janet Leigh.

Rubin also wrote Brainstorm, starring Jeffrey Hunter, and Walk a Tightrope, starring Dan Duryea, both released in 1965, and The Human Shield (1991).

The Best of Everything, based on a popular novel by Rona Jaffe, starred Hope Lange, Suzy Parker and Diane Baker as secretaries and roommates who work at a New York City paperback publisher. Joan Crawford played a maniacal editor at the firm.

A native of Brooklyn and graduate of New York University, Rubin started out in live television in the late 1940s working on such anthology series as Studio One and Tales for Tomorrow.

He initially worked as a science fiction writer for DC Comics. His writing credits at DC Comics included Mystery in Space and Strange Adventures.

He went on to write for other series including Perry Mason, The Fugitive, The F.B.I., Mission: Impossible, The Mod Squad, Mannix, The Six Million Dollar Man, Ironside, Harry O, Starsky and Hutch, Future Cop, Quincy, M.E., Barnaby Jones, The Rockford Files, Dynasty, Knots Landing and The Paper Chase.

Rubin spent more than a decade teaching screenwriting in the cinema/TV division at the University of Southern California.

Writer

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2.2

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teleplay by

2021

1 episode

 

A Lasting Impression

Short

Writer

2014

 

A Nice Touch (2012)

A Nice Touch

7.7

Short

Writer

2012

 

The Human Shield (1991)

The Human Shield

4.5

screenplay

story

1991

 

Dragnet (1989)

Dragnet

5.6

TV Series

writer

1990

1 episode

 

The Paper Chase (1973)

The Paper Chase

8.1

TV Series

written by

1985

1 episode

 

Anne Baxter, James Brolin, and Connie Sellecca in Hotel (1983)

Hotel

6.4

TV Series

story by

1984

2 episodes

 

Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, Constance McCashin, John Pleshette, and Ted Shackelford in Knots Landing (1979)

Knots Landing

6.9

TV Series

written by

1982–1983

2 episodes

 

Today's F.B.I. (1981)

Today's F.B.I.

7.0

TV Series

Writer

1982

1 episode

 

Dynasty (1981)

Dynasty

6.4

TV Series

teleplay by

1981

1 episode

 

The First Deadly Sin (1980)

The First Deadly Sin

5.9

screenplay

1980

 

Sweepstakes (1979)

Sweepstakes

5.8

TV Series

writer

1979

1 episode

 

Noah Beery Jr. and James Garner in The Rockford Files (1974)

The Rockford Files

8.2

TV Series

story by

1979

1 episode

 

Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

6.9

TV Series

teleplay

written by

teleplay by

1976–1978

6 episodes

 

W.E.B.

6.4

TV Series

Writer

1978

1 episode

 

John Joseph Thomas in Young Dan'l Boone (1977)

Young Dan'l Boone

7.1

TV Series

Writer

1978

1 episode

 

Project U.F.O. (1978)

Project U.F.O.

7.1

TV Series

story

1978

1 episode

 

Kevin Brophy in Lucan (1977)

Lucan

7.3

TV Series

written by

1978

1 episode

 

The Return of Captain Nemo (1978)

The Return of Captain Nemo

4.8

TV Movie

writer: "Duel in the Deep"

1978

 

Jack Klugman in Quincy, M.E. (1976)

Quincy, M.E.

7.3

TV Series

story

teleplay

written by

1977–1978

2 episodes

 

Harold Gould and Stefanie Powers in The Feather and Father Gang (1976)

The Feather and Father Gang

7.0

TV Series

written by

1977

1 episode

 

Future Cop (1976)

Future Cop

6.0

TV Series

writer

1977

2 episodes

 

Susan Howard, Barry Newman, and Albert Salmi in Petrocelli (1974)

Petrocelli

7.1

TV Series

written by

1976

1 episode

 

The Bionic Woman (1976)

The Bionic Woman

6.7

TV Series

story by

teleplay by

1976

1 episode

 

Robert Blake in Baretta (1975)

Baretta

6.7

TV Series

story

1976

1 episode

 

Cannon (1971)

Cannon

6.8

TV Series

story

1976

1 episode

 

Starsky and Hutch (1975)

Starsky and Hutch

7.0

TV Series

story

teleplay

1975

1 episode

 

Anthony Franciosa and Laraine Stephens in Matt Helm (1975)

Matt Helm

5.9

TV Series

story

1975

1 episode

 

Kate Jackson, Georg Stanford Brown, Sam Melville, and Michael Ontkean in The Rookies (1972)

The Rookies

6.8

TV Series

writer

1974–1975

2 episodes

 

Mike Connors in Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

written by

teleplay

1971–1975

4 episodes

 

David Janssen in Harry O (1973)

Harry O

7.5

TV Series

story

teleplay

1975

1 episode

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

written by

story

teleplay

1973–1975

2 episodes

 

Claude Akins, Frank Converse, and Merle Haggard in Movin' On (1974)

Movin' On

7.3

TV Series

written by

1974

1 episode

 

Polly Bergen, Donna Mills, Paul Burke, Judy Carne, and Barbara Feldon in The Wide World of Mystery (1973)

The Wide World of Mystery

6.8

TV Series

Writer

1974

1 episode

 

Murder in the First Person Singular (1974)

Murder in the First Person Singular

6.2

TV Movie

Writer

1974

 

Hec Ramsey (1972)

Hec Ramsey

7.8

TV Series

written by

1974

1 episode

 

Lee Majors in The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

The Six Million Dollar Man

7.1

TV Series

written by

1974

1 episode

 

Circle of Fear (1972)

Circle of Fear

7.5

TV Series

writer

1973

1 episode

 

Banyon (1971)

Banyon

7.8

TV Series

writer

1972

1 episode

 

See the Man Run (1971)

See the Man Run

7.3

TV Movie

Writer

1971

 

Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole, and Clarence Williams III in Mod Squad (1968)

Mod Squad

7.0

TV Series

written by

story

teleplay

1971

3 episodes

 

Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)

The Todd Killings

6.0

story by

1971

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Mission: Impossible

7.9

TV Series

written by

1967–1971

3 episodes

 

Stefan Arngrim, Gary Conway, Kurt Kasznar, Deanna Lund, Don Marshall, Don Matheson, and Heather Young in Land of the Giants (1968)

Land of the Giants

7.1

TV Series

written by

1968

1 episode

 

Ben Gazzara in Run for Your Life (1965)

Run for Your Life

7.6

TV Series

teleplay

1968

1 episode

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

story

1967

1 episode

 

Iron Horse (1966)

Iron Horse

7.1

TV Series

written by

1967

1 episode

 

Warning Shot (1966)

Warning Shot

6.7

screenplay by

1966

 

Burt Reynolds in Hawk (1966)

Hawk

6.9

TV Series

written by

1966

1 episode

 

The Felony Squad (1966)

The Felony Squad

7.5

TV Series

written by

1966

1 episode

 

An American Dream (1966)

An American Dream

4.8

screenplay

1966

 

David Janssen in The Fugitive (1963)

The Fugitive

8.1

TV Series

story by

1966

1 episode

 

Jeffrey Hunter in Brainstorm (1965)

Brainstorm

6.6

screenplay

1965

 

Raymond Burr in Perry Mason (1957)

Perry Mason

8.3

TV Series

written by

1964–1965

2 episodes

 

Mañana puede ser verdad

6.3

TV Series

Writer

1964

1 episode

 

Ben Gazzara and Chuck Connors in Arrest and Trial (1963)

Arrest and Trial

7.7

TV Series

written by

1964

1 episode

 

Alfred Hitchcock in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962)

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

8.5

TV Series

story and teleplay

1963

1 episode

 

Breaking Point (1963)

Breaking Point

7.4

TV Series

written by

1963

1 episode

 

Walk a Tightrope (1963)

Walk a Tightrope

6.2

story

1963

 

Violent Midnight (1963)

Violent Midnight

5.6

additional dialogue

1963

 

Ripcord (1961)

Ripcord

7.4

TV Series

written by

1962

1 episode

 

Mañana puede ser verdad

TV Series

story

1962

1 episode

 

Robert Reed and E.G. Marshall in The Defenders (1961)

The Defenders

8.0

TV Series

written by

1962

1 episode

 

Sebastian Cabot, Anthony George, and Doug McClure in Checkmate (1960)

Checkmate

7.6

TV Series

teleplay

story

1961–1962

2 episodes

 

Our American Heritage (1959)

Our American Heritage

TV Series

written by

teleplay

1960–1961

2 episodes

 

John Forsythe, Larry Blyden, and Barbara Rush in Sunday Showcase (1959)

Sunday Showcase

4.4

TV Series

writer

1961

1 episode

 

The Blue Angels (1960)

The Blue Angels

7.3

TV Series

written by

1960

2 episodes

 

The Chevy Mystery Show (1960)

The Chevy Mystery Show

8.0

TV Series

writer

1960

1 episode

 

Brian Aherne, Diane Baker, Stephen Boyd, Joan Crawford, Robert Evans, Martha Hyer, Louis Jourdan, Hope Lange, and Suzy Parker in The Best of Everything (1959)

The Best of Everything

6.6

screenplay

1959

 

Alcoa Theatre (1957)

Alcoa Theatre

7.4

TV Series

original story

1958

1 episode

 

Dan Duryea in Climax! (1954)

Climax!

6.6

TV Series

writer

1957

2 episodes

 

Playwrights '56 (1955)

Playwrights '56

6.7

TV Series

writer

1956

1 episode

 

Goodyear Playhouse (1951)

Goodyear Playhouse

7.8

TV Series

writer

1954–1955

2 episodes

 

Appointment with Adventure (1955)

Appointment with Adventure

6.8

TV Series

Writer

1955

1 episode

 

Studio One (1948)

Studio One

7.6

TV Series

Writer

1955

1 episode

 

Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950)

Armstrong Circle Theatre

7.7

TV Series

teleplay

1955

1 episode

 

Justice (1954)

Justice

5.7

TV Series

teleplay

1954–1955

4 episodes

 

The Hunter (1952)

The Hunter

8.1

TV Series

written by

1954

1 episode

 

Kraft Theatre (1947)

The Philco Television Playhouse

7.6

TV Series

story

writer

1954

2 episodes

 

Man Against Crime (1949)

Man Against Crime

7.2

TV Series

writer

1954

1 episode

 

Leslie Nielsen, Eva Gabor, and Brian Keith in Tales of Tomorrow (1951)

Tales of Tomorrow

7.0

TV Series

teleplay

by

writer ...

1952–1953

16 episodes

 

Additional Crew

Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, Constance McCashin, John Pleshette, and Ted Shackelford in Knots Landing (1979)

Knots Landing

6.9

TV Series

executive story editor

1982–1983

22 episodes

 

Producer

Carol Lynley in Once You Kiss a Stranger... (1969)

Once You Kiss a Stranger...

5.5

associate producer

1969