Screenwriter, Author. The son of Salka and Berthold Viertel, he was born in Dresden, Germany and at the age of eight moved with his parents to Santa Monica, California. He began his career as a novelist but turned to writing scripts for Hollywood. Viertel originally worked as RKO producer Val Lewton's assistant. His credits include "Saboteur" (1942) (original screenplay), "We Were Strangers" (1949), "The African Queen" (1951), "Beat the Devil" (1953), "The Sun Also Rises" (1957) and "The Old Man and the Sea" (1958). His best known novel, "White Hunter, Black Heart", is an account of his adventures while working uncredited on the script of "The African Queen". The book was made into a film under the title "White Hunter Black Heart" (1990). Viertel published a memoir, "Dangerous Friends: At Large with Huston and Hemingway in the Fifties." His many works also include "The Bicycle on the Beach" and "American Skin." He was married to actress Deborah Kerr and died in Marbella, Spain, three weeks after her.
Screenwriter, Author. The son of Salka and Berthold Viertel, he was born in Dresden, Germany and at the age of eight moved with his parents to Santa Monica, California. He began his career as a novelist but turned to writing scripts for Hollywood. Viertel originally worked as RKO producer Val Lewton's assistant. His credits include "Saboteur" (1942) (original screenplay), "We Were Strangers" (1949), "The African Queen" (1951), "Beat the Devil" (1953), "The Sun Also Rises" (1957) and "The Old Man and the Sea" (1958). His best known novel, "White Hunter, Black Heart", is an account of his adventures while working uncredited on the script of "The African Queen". The book was made into a film under the title "White Hunter Black Heart" (1990). Viertel published a memoir, "Dangerous Friends: At Large with Huston and Hemingway in the Fifties." His many works also include "The Bicycle on the Beach" and "American Skin." He was married to actress Deborah Kerr and died in Marbella, Spain, three weeks after her.
Bio by: José L Bernabé Tronchoni
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