Herbert Baker (bornHerbert Joseph Abrahams; December 25, 1920,New York City – June 30, 1983,[1]Encino, Los Angeles, California) was asongwriter andscreenwriter for television and films.
The only son of composerMaurice Abrahams and singerBelle Baker, Herbert attendedYale School of Drama, receiving aBachelor of Fine Arts. His first Broadway credit was in 1944 as the lyricist ofErich Wolfgang Korngold's arrangement of Offenbach'sLa Belle Helene as well as other songs and musical pieces for the Broadway musical,Helen Goes to Troy[2]
In 1945, Baker wrote for theDanny Kaye radio show.Henry Morgan hired Baker to write for his radio show in 1947. Baker began his career in screenwriting in 1948 with Morgan's film debutSo This Is New York, co-written withCarl Foreman and based uponRing Lardner's 1920 novelThe Big Town. Baker was a Yale classmate of directorRichard Fleischer and recommended him toStanley Kramer forSo This Is New York.[3]
He wroteDream Wife (1953) withSidney Sheldon forCary Grant andDeborah Kerr, as well as several films forDean Martin andJerry Lewis such asJumping Jacks (1951),Scared Stiff (1953), andArtists and Models (1955). The latter film was directed and co-written byFrank Tashlin, with whom Baker worked again onThe Girl Can't Help It.[4]
Baker kept writing songs, including new ones forRose Marie (1954). He contributed to twoElvis Presley films,Loving You andKing Creole. AfterMartin and Lewis split up, Baker wroteDon't Give Up the Ship for Jerry Lewis and worked on Lewis's television show.[4] One of Baker's best popular songs was written in the mid-1950s,I Love To Love, famously recorded byLena Horne on her 'Live at the Waldorf Astoria' album and also recorded byPeggy Lee.[5]
Baker entered television writing and wonEmmy Awards forAn Evening With Fred Astaire in 1959 andThe Flip Wilson Show in 1971. He was nominated twice forThe Flip Wilson Show in 1972 and 1973 and was nominated in 1964 forThe Danny Kaye Show.[6] Baker wrote television scripts for many other singers such asPerry Como,Frank Sinatra,John Denver,Mac Davis andGladys Knight & the Pips.[1] He wrote atelevision pilot for a version ofSome Like It Hot in 1961.[7][8]
In 1965, Baker wrote forThe Dean Martin Show. When Martin agreed to star in and co-produce a series ofMatt Helm spy films for producerIrving Allen in the same year, Baker rewrote the screenplayOscar Saul (A Streetcar Named Desire) had based on the original Matt Helm novels written byDonald Hamilton to reflect Dean Martin'sRat Pack reputation for the third and final draft ofThe Silencers but only received a screen credit for the song parodies he wrote for Martin.[7]
Baker received sole credit forMurderers' Row that Oscar Saul had rewritten but Baker rewrote again.[7] He wrote the third Matt Helm film,The Ambushers, and later wrote a serious spy adventure for Irving Allen,Hammerhead, based onJames Mayo's "Charles Hood" character. Baker's final screen credit wasThe Jazz Singer in 1980.
Baker taught music and mentoredjazzsaxophonistAzar Lawrence who recalled Baker as "one of the greatest pianists who ever lived" and taught Lawrence to reach down inside himself for his music.[9]
A member of theWriters Guild of America, west board, Baker was awarded thePaddy Chayefsky Laurel Award from the Guild in 1983.[10]
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