Budd Schulberg Biography

Budd Schulberg wrote the screenplay for the classic films On the Waterfront and A Face in the Crowd, and was also a successful novelist. Born in New York City, Schulberg's father was the head of Paramount Pictures, and his mother was the sister of Sam Jaffe, an agent for many Hollywood stars. After college, Schulberg was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, making documentary films of the combat. Later in life, he joined — and then left — the Communist Party. When he was called to testify for the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1951, he identified eight other Communist Party members in Hollywood, leading to their blacklisting and his ostracism by those in the Hollywood community who viewed him as a snitch. But Schulberg was ultimately vindicated by the passage of time and his enduring artistic achievements. He passed away on August 5, 2009 at the age of 95.