Screenwriter. Meltzer, who earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from New York University, was brought up in a show business family as the son of Isidor Meltzer, a comedian in the Yiddish theater, and as the brother of character actor Sid Melton. Meltzer went to Hollywood in 1938 at the request of director Rouben Mamoulian and adapted a play by Clifford Odets that gave William Holden his first starring role which went on to earn him the best actor Oscar for his role. In a career that spanned 30 years, among other screenplays written by Meltzer were 'The Lady in Question' (1940), 'Once Upon a Time' (1944), 'Along the Great Divide' (1951), 'The Jazz Singer' (a 1952 remake starring Danny Thomas), 'Autumn Leaves' (1956) and 'Man With the Golden Arm' (1955), a novel by Nelson Algren in which Frank Sinatra played a professional card dealer dealing with an addiction to heroin. The role earned a best actor Oscar nomination for Sinatra. He was equally busy with television, writing for such series as 'Schlitz Playhouse', 'Cheyenne', 'Naked City' and 'The Rifleman'. Meltzer died after a bout with pneumonia.
Screenwriter. Meltzer, who earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from New York University, was brought up in a show business family as the son of Isidor Meltzer, a comedian in the Yiddish theater, and as the brother of character actor Sid Melton. Meltzer went to Hollywood in 1938 at the request of director Rouben Mamoulian and adapted a play by Clifford Odets that gave William Holden his first starring role which went on to earn him the best actor Oscar for his role. In a career that spanned 30 years, among other screenplays written by Meltzer were 'The Lady in Question' (1940), 'Once Upon a Time' (1944), 'Along the Great Divide' (1951), 'The Jazz Singer' (a 1952 remake starring Danny Thomas), 'Autumn Leaves' (1956) and 'Man With the Golden Arm' (1955), a novel by Nelson Algren in which Frank Sinatra played a professional card dealer dealing with an addiction to heroin. The role earned a best actor Oscar nomination for Sinatra. He was equally busy with television, writing for such series as 'Schlitz Playhouse', 'Cheyenne', 'Naked City' and 'The Rifleman'. Meltzer died after a bout with pneumonia.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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