Screenwriter Ernest Lehman, who wrote the screenplays for “Sabrina,” “The Sound of Music” and other classic Hollywood movies lived in Brentwood for 50 years.
Jon Krampner is currently writing the biography of screenwriter Ernest Paul Lehman, and is looking for people who may have known Lehman to interview for the book.
Lehman, who lived for 50 years at 11759 Chenault St. in Brentwood, was the screenwriter for such iconic films as “Sabrina” (1954, starring Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden), “Somebody Up There Likes Me” (1956, the Rocky Graziano biopic, which made a star of Paul Newman), “Sweet Smell of Success” (1957, based on Lehman’s own novella), Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest” (1959), “West Side Story” (1961), “The Sound of Music” (1965) and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” (1966).
Lehman received six Academy Award nominations during his career, without a single win. At the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001, he received an Honorary Academy Award for his ingenious and influential works. He was the first screenwriter to receive that honor. The award was presented to him by his friend and The Sound of Music star Julie Andrews.
Lehman was born on Dec. 8, 1915 and died on July 2, 2005, at the age of 89. He was married to his first wife Jacqueline until her death in 1994. He married his second wife Laurie in 1997.
“I’m hoping there are still friends, neighbors and people with whom he did business who can help me bring him to life,” Krampner said. “His films are well-remembered, but he deserves to be remembered as well.”
Anyone who knew Lehman can contact Krampner at bluewombat@dslextreme.com, or 323.661.7428.
