Writer Don Mankiewicz, nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay of “I Want to Live!”died peacefully at home, surrounded by family, friends and the two loves of his life, his wife Carol and his dog, Valentina. The cause of death was congestive heart failure. He was 93 years old.
In television, Mankiewicz was best known for writing the pilot episodes of Ironside and Marcus Welby, M.D. and the “Court Martial” episode of the original Star Trek series. His novels include “See HowThey Run,”“Trial”and “It Only HurtsAMinute.”
After graduating Columbia University in 1942, Mankiewicz joined the Army. He served in Europe in military intelligence and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
A life-long Democrat, Mankiewicz was an elected delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1967, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968. He served multiple terms on the Board of the Writers Guild of America West, and received the Guild’s Morgan Cox Award in 2008.
The oldest child of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and Sara Aaronson, Mankiewicz was predeceased by his beloved siblings, Frank (2014) and Johanna (1974.)
He is survived by his wife Carol, daughters Jan Diaz (Michael), Sandy Perez (Richard) and Miracle Herrera (Juan Carlos), and, from his first marriage to Ilene Korsen, his son John (Katie Bergin) and daughter Jane.
Grandchildren are Molly, Jack, Sara and Rebecca.
The family would like to thank the amazing Dr. Andrew Lee, Ulanda Lee, old pal Dr. Melvin Hershkowitz, Viviane Moekle, who brought Carol and Don together, guardian angels the Parkinsons, financial analyst Diane Sabourin, long-time friends and traveling companions Karen and Cary Korobkin and Don’s project manager Jill Holland. And, of course, once more, Valentina. Because she’s the dog.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Special Olympics of Southern California, 1600 Forbes Way, Suite 200, Long Beach, Ca. 90810, and Smile Train, 41 Madison Ave., 28th Floor, NY, NY, 10010.
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