- Born
- Died
- Joseph Heller was born May 1, 1923, in the Coney Island section of New York City. He is best known for his 1961 novel 'Catch-22', whose title gave the English language a new phrase for a no-win situation. The situation was that of protagonist Yossarian, who claims that he is too crazy to fly any more bombing missions, but is told by the military that anyone who seeks to avoid combat must be sane. After high school Heller enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a bombardier, then transferred to cadet school. He flew more than 60 bombing missions during his tour of duty. Heller earned a Bachelor of Arts from New York University in 1948, a Master of Arts from Columbia University in 1949 and a Fulbright Scholarship to Oxford University. He taught English at Pennsylvania State University, wrote advertising copy for Time and Look magazines, and was a promotion manager for McCall's magazine. Teaching jobs at Yale University and University of Pennsylvania followed, as well as television and screen-writing work.- IMDb mini biography by: Paul Klenk <paulklenk@rocketmail.com>
- SpousesValerie Humphries(1987 - December 10, 1999) (his death)Shirley Held(1945 - 1984) (divorced)
- Predicted, prior to the release of the Mike Nichols film version of Catch-22 (1970), that if the film was a hit then he, Heller, would take the credit; if it was a flop, Nichols would take the blame.
- Children: Erica, Theodore
- Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 264-265. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
- Frankly, I'd like to see the government get out of war altogether and leave the whole field to private industry.
- Every writer I know has trouble writing.
- Destiny is a good thing to accept when it's going your way. When it isn't, don't call it destiny; call it injustice, treachery, or simple bad luck.
- [when asked what he does in his spare time] Nothing. Really, nothing. I have no hobbies, no recreations. I hate sports. I also hate gardening and walking. I don't go to movies or the theater or watch television. What I *do* like is lying down. My best thinking is done going into or coming out of naps.
- The things I write about are funny only up to a point. Actually I am a very morbid, melancholy person. I'm preoccupied with death, disease and misfortune.
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