Reginald Rose
Writer
During the golden age of television, Rose was known for his willingness to tackle social and political issues.
He won an Emmy in 1954 for best written dramatic material for the original television version of "Twelve Angry Men," the story of one man swaying a jury that's debating the fate of a Puerto Rican youth charged with killing his father.
Rose received an Academy Award nomination for the screenplay of the 1957 film version, which starred Henry Fonda, who co-produced the movie with Rose. The film also featured Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley Sr., E.G. Marshall, Jack Klugman, Jack Warden and Martin Balsam and was directed by Sidney Lumet, who copped an Oscar nom. The film was also nominated for best picture.
Rose won additional Emmys for his work on "The Defenders," the acclaimed series about a father-son lawyer team starring Marshall and Robert Reed. The series, based on Rose's original 1957 "Studio One" play "The Defender," took on complex cases that occasionally involved such issues as abortion, euthanasia and blacklisting.
New York native joined the Army in 1942 and reached the rank of first lieutenant. He began television writing in 1951 for CBS and eventually worked for all three major networks.
His movie screenplays include "The Wild Geese" (1978) and "Whose Life Is It Anyway?" (1981).
He married Barbara Langbart in 1943, and after their divorce, he married Ellen McLaughlin in 1963. In addition to his wife, he is survived by six children from both marriages.
