TV writer Raymond Goldstone dies

Worked on 'Days of Our Lives,' other daytime series

By VARIETY STAFF

TV writer Raymond Goldstone, who wrote for series including "Days of Our Lives," "General Hospital," "Knots Landing" and "Falcon Crest," died of a heart attack March 13 in Van Nuys, Calif. He was 88.

A memorial service for will be held on Friday, April 25, at 7:00 at the WGA Theater, at 135 S. Doheny Dr., Beverly Hills. To R.S.V.P., call 818-786-3235, or email [e-mail].

Born in Little Falls, N.Y., Goldstone majored in journalism at Cornell U. and then became a newspaper reporter. During WWII, he served in the Army, writing scripts for training films and working in Signal Intelligence.

Upon returning to civilian life, he worked as a book editor and then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a story analyst at Warner Brothers. He was a professor of English Literature at the U. of Calif. at Santa Barbara for five years before joining the writing staff of the daytime drama, "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" in 1970. From 1973-1976, he worked on the writing staff of "Search for Tomorrow."

In 1975, Goldstone and the "Search for Tomorrow" writing staff won a Writers Guild Award for daytime serial. During the late '70s, he was staff writer on "Days of Our Lives," where he shared Daytime Emmy nominations for outstanding writing for a drama series as well as a WGA nomination.

In 1979, he co-wrote the action/disaster TV miniseries, "The Night the Bridge Fell Down" (co-written with Arthur Weiss and Michael Robert David), produced by Irwin Allen. In 1981, Goldstone joined the writing staff of ABC's hit daytime series "General Hospital," serving as head writer. During the mid-'80s, Goldstone wrote episodes for TV dramas including "Knots Landing" and "Falcon Crest." He also served as head writer of daytime serial "Rituals."

He is survived by his wife, actress Mary Ellen Jennings Goldstone, and a sister, writer Ann Marcus.

Donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.