Burt Prelutsky
Born(1940-01-05)January 5, 1940
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedDecember 17, 2021(2021-12-17) (aged 81)
North Hills, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Years active1963–2018

Burt Prelutsky (January 5, 1940 – December 17, 2021) was an American screenwriter, newspaper columnist, and author.

Early life and career

A graduate of Fairfax High School,[1] Prelutsky was a film critic for Los Angeles Magazine from 1961 to 1971, writing acerbic reviews that gained him a reputation as "the fastest barb in the west." He also wrote a weekly column for the Los Angeles Times' magazine, West.[2]

In the late 1960s he wrote several episodes of the Dragnet TV series.[3]

He wrote eight episodes of the M*A*S*H TV series during seasons four, five, and six, including The Novocaine Mutiny,[4]: p.190  The General's Practitioner,[4]: p.198  The Grim Reaper[4]: p.203  and Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler?[4]: p.186 

In 2000 Prelutsky was one of the earliest plaintiffs to sign on to a class action lawsuit brought against television talent agencies, networks and production studios accused of discrimination against older writers. The suit was settled in 2010 for $70 million.[5]

Awards and recognition

In 1985 Prelutsky won a Writers Guild of America Award in the original comedy anthology category for the 1983 TV movie Hobson's Choice.[6] He was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1982 under the category "Best Television Feature or Miniseries" for his work on the 1981 television movie A Small Killing, and in 1976 was nominated for a Humanitas Prize in the category "30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television" for his work on the Quo Vadis 1975 episode of the television program M*A*S*H.[7]

He received a Christopher Award in 1987 for A Winner Never Quits, a TV movie that was broadcast on CBS in 1986.[8]

Personal life and death

Prelutsky died on December 17, 2021, at the age of 81.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Prelutsky, Burt (October 6, 1974). "How to Stay Popular Even Though Well-Liked". The Los Angeles Times Calendar. p. 25. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Hollywood Rejoices, As Prelutsky Retires". Playground Daily News. Fort Walton Beach, Fl. Associated Press. 22 January 1971. p. 11. Retrieved 10 July 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Burt Prelutsky (14 September 2008). "Just The Facts, Ma'am (classic)". Burt Prelutsky.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. (archived)
  4. 1 2 3 4 James H. Wittebols (1 January 2003). Watching M*A*S*H, Watching America: A Social History of the 1972-1983 Television Series. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1701-8.
  5. ↑ Paul Bond (22 January 2010). "Settlement reached in TV discrimination cases". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. ↑ London, Michael (22 March 1985). "Robinson, Allen Share Writers Guild Award". Los Angeles Times. pp. H14.
  7. ↑ "Burt Prelutsky". IMDb.
  8. ↑ "Programing: Christopher winners named". Broadcasting. 112 (11): 67. 16 March 1987.
  9. ↑ "Burton Prelutsky". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
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