Peter Viertel Biography

Author and screenwriter who produced proactive works of fiction and memoir. Viertel wrote at least 9 novels and 11 feature films. He used his screenwriting to enhance his novels and vice versa. He moved to Hollywood as a child with his parents, who both worked as screenwriters. Learning from his parents, Viertel went on to write the screenplay for “The African Queen” in 1951, and a novel called “White Hunter, Black Heart” in 1953, which was later turned into a Clint Eastwood movie with the same name. Viertel was married to actress Deborah Kerr, who preceded him in death by one month.