Paddy Chayefsky (real name Sydney Aaron) is a famous American screenwriter, writer, producer and musician. He became one of only five representatives of the film industry in the history of Hollywood to win 3 Oscars for Best Adapted and Best Original Screenplay.
Paddy became widely known during the "Golden Age of American Television". He created realistic dramatic stories about the lives of ordinary Americans, which have consistently enjoyed great success with the audience.
During his career, the screenwriter has received many awards, prizes and nominations, including: Oscar, Emmy, Saturn, Writers Guild of America Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, New York Film Critics Circle.
Chayefsky's creative biography began in 1945. During his career, he wrote scripts for 28 films, became a producer of 3 films, he himself played cameo roles in 3 projects. Paddy has also taken part in Oscars, popular shows and documentaries on numerous occasions.
Biography facts
Sydney Aaron was born in the United States in the Russian-Jewish family Harry and Gassi Chayevski (Russian surname Stuchevsky). My father was in the military and served in the Russian army for many years. He emigrated to the United States in 1907. Mom was born in a small village near Odessa. She moved to America in 1909.
After settling in New York, Harry took a job with a milk supply company from New Jersey. He worked there for many years and eventually became the owner of a large stake in Dellwood Dairies. When Harry and Gussie became husband and wife, he already had a decent enough fortune to support his family. The couple had three children: William, Wynn and Sydney. In 1929, during the financial crisis, Harry went bankrupt and the family was forced to return to the Bronx.
From an early age, the boy showed interest in reading and literature. He was educated at a public elementary school in the Bronx, then attended DeWitt Clinton High School where he was editor of the literary magazine The Magpie.
After graduating from high school, Chayefsky continued his studies at City College at the University of New York in the department of social sciences. In his student years, the young man was actively involved in sports and played in the Kingsbridge Trojans football team.
In 1943, the young man was drafted into the army and took part in military operations in Europe. It was there that he received the nickname "Paddy" which later became his pseudonym.
Paddy served in the ranks of the infantry division and was seriously wounded by a fragment of a mine. For his participation in military operations and displayed courage, he was awarded the Order of the Purple Heart. After being wounded and treated in the hospital, the young man's face and body were left with scars, which he was very shy about all his life.
During treatment in the hospital, he wrote a book and several texts for musical comedies. In 1945, a play was staged based on his play "No T. O. for Love" and was shown at a military base.
After the end of the war, the production was staged by the London Scala Theater. At the premiere, Paddy met Joshua Logan, who later co-wrote several of Chayefsky's scripts. The famous director G. Kanin invited the writer to work with him on the project of the film about the war "True Glory".
Creative way
After returning from military service, Paddy worked for a time in a printing house owned by his uncle.
In 1947, he went to Hollywood to pursue a career as a screenwriter. His friends helped him get a job at Universal Pictures' bookkeeping so he could earn money for his living and to pay his rent.
Paddy began his studies in the acting workshop and even played several cameo roles in the films of his friend G. Kanin. After a while, the young man presented his first screenplay to Universal Pictures and was hired as an assistant screenwriter. Paddy's first script was never appreciated; six months later, he was fired from the studio.
He made another attempt to find work as a screenwriter at Twentieth Century Fox, but in the end he failed again. He didn't like rewriting ready-made scripts and coming up with scenes for low-budget films. Therefore, after a few months, he quit his job and left for New York, promising never to return to Hollywood.
Real success came to Chayefsky only in 1955. He wrote the screenplay for Marty, directed by Delbert Mann. The film tells the story of a lonely man named Marty who lives with his mother in the Bronx, surrounded by numerous relatives who came to America from Italy. He only has one friend, Angie, whom he often meets after work. They spend their time aimlessly, dreaming only of how to find something interesting in life and fill the spiritual emptiness.
The film received 4 Oscars and 4 more nominations for this award. He also won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival, two awards from the British Academy and a Golden Globe.
Chayefsky received the next Oscar nomination for the script for the biographical drama The Goddess, which was based on the biography of the legendary Marilyn Monroe. But this time he did not get the prize.
Paddy received the most awards for the script for the movie "Hospital", which was released in screens in 1971. He won awards: Oscar, Golden Globe, British Academy and Berlin Film Festival.
The third "Oscar" went to the writer in 1977 for the script for the film "Teleset".
Personal life
Paddy got married in 1949. His chosen one was Susan Sackler, with whom he lived until the end of his days. In 1955, the couple had a son, Dan.
In 1980, the writer fell seriously ill and was hospitalized. Analyzes revealed he had an oncological disease. The man was offered surgery, but he refused, deciding to use chemotherapy. The disease progressed rapidly and treatment did not help.
Paddy died in the hospital in the summer of 1981. He was buried in the Kensico Cemetery.
