Biography

Howard Rodman was an American writer and story editor of such critically acclaimed series such as Naked City (1958) and Route 66 (1960). A Brooklyn native, the son of immigrant parents, Rodman began his career in the 1950s writing for such noted anthology series as Studio One, Alcoa Theater, and Goodyear Theater. He contributed to Have Gun - Will Travel (1957) and was an associate producer on Peyton Place (1964). In the subsequent decades he won a trio of Writer's Guild awards for his scripts for Today the Man Who Kills Ants Is Coming (1962), The Game with Glass Pieces (1964), and for the NBC/Universal Television drama, The Neon Ceiling (1971).

As a feature writer, he scripted the Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward racing film, Virages (1969), and co-wrote three iconic feature films for director Don Siegel: Police sur la ville (1968), Un shérif à New-York (1968), and Tuez Charley Varrick! (1973). Rodman also wrote the teleplay adaptation of Martin Caidin's novel, 'The Six Million Dollar Man', essentially creating the television version of the character as well as supplying the format for the subsequent series. Dissatisfied with the final product he removed his name and substituted his pseudonym Henri Simoun, a frequent practice. Rodman was once quoted as saying, "The script isn't finished until the name comes off".

Rodman also created the David Janssen private eye series Harry O (1973). In 1976, he was presented with the Writers Guild's Laurel Award for lifetime achievement in television. His final project was the made-for-TV movie Scandale à la une (1985), starring Burt Lancaster. He died of complications following heart surgery in Los Angeles at age 65. He was survived by his second wife, actress Norma Connolly, and his children: Howard A. Rodman (a writer), Adam Rodman (a writer), Phillip Rodman, and Tiahna Skye.

- IMDb mini biography by: Howard A. Rodman