Jack B. Sowards, writer, 78

Scribe wrote 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'

By VARIETY STAFF

Film and television writer Jack B. Sowards died of complications of ALS and COPD on July 8 in Valley Village, Calif. He was 78.

Sowards was perhaps best known for his screenplay "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan."

Born in Texarkana, Ark., he joined the Marines in 1947 and then studied theater at the U. of Texas, Austin .

In 1954, Sowards moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career and found roles in low budget war movies, local theater productions, and TV roles including "Peyton Place."

He turned to TV writing and producing in the mid-60s, and was a writer/story editor for "Bonanza," "High Chaparral," "Daniel Boone," "The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" and "The Streets of San Francisco."

In his later years, he taught screenwriting through UCLA's graduate program.

He is survived by three daughters, a son, two granddaughters and a sister.