I. A. L. Diamond | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ițec Domnici June 27, 1920 |
| Died | April 21, 1988(1988-04-21) (aged 67) |
| Occupation | Screenwriter |
| Years active | 1941–1981 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay 1960The Apartment NYFCC Award for Best Screenplay 1960The Apartment WGA Award –Best Written American Comedy 1960The Apartment 1959Some Like It Hot 1957Love in the Afternoon |
I. A. L. Diamond (bornIțec (Itzek)Domnici; June 27, 1920 – April 21, 1988) was a Romanian–American screenwriter, best known for his collaborations withBilly Wilder.
Diamond was born inUngheni,Bessarabia,Romania,[1] i.e. present dayMoldova. He emigrated with his mother and sister, following his father to theCrown Heights area ofBrooklyn in the United States. There, he studied at the Boy's High School,[1] showing ability in mathematics, competing in the state Mathematics Olympiads in 1936–37 and winning several medals therein.[1] Diamond was referred to as "Iz" in Hollywood, and was known to quip that his initials stood for "Interscholastic Algebra League", a prize he also won while attendingBoys' High School.
Diamond completed his undergraduate studies atColumbia in 1941. There he studied journalism, publishing in theColumbia Daily Spectator under the pseudonym "I. A. L. Diamond". He was editor of the humor magazineJester of Columbia and a member of thePhilolexian Society. He became the only person to single-handedly write four consecutive productions of the annual revue, theVarsity Show and a spare should they need one.
After graduating, he abandoned a plan to pursue his master's in engineering at Columbia and accepted a short-term contract in Hollywood. A succession of limited-term contracts ensued, notably at Paramount, where Diamond worked on projects without receiving a writing credit. He moved toUniversal Pictures, where he made his first filmMurder in the Blue Room. It was a year later atWarner Bros., that he achieved his first real success and consequent recognition withNever Say Goodbye. He worked at20th Century Fox for four years.
In 1957, he began collaborating withBilly Wilder, working on the filmLove in the Afternoon. They later wrote the classic films,Some Like It Hot,The Apartment (which won anAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay),[1]One, Two, Three,Irma la Douce,Kiss Me, Stupid andThe Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.
In 1969, Diamond wrote the screenplay for thefilm adaptation of the playCactus Flower.[1] In total, Diamond and Wilder wrote the scripts for twelve films. Some featured characters engaging in an endless but friendly squabbling, such as Joe and Jerry inSome Like It Hot and Holmes and Watson inThe Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. Diamond's widow said that these characters were based on her husband's relationship with Wilder.[2]
In 1980, Diamond and Wilder received the Writers Guild of America's Laurel Award for career achievement in screenwriting. Wilder had previously received the Laurel Award in 1957 for his partnership withCharles Brackett.[3]
Diamond died ofmultiple myeloma on April 21, 1988.[1]
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Some Like It Hot | Nominated |
| 1960 | Best Original Screenplay | The Apartment | Won |
| 1966 | Best Original Screenplay | The Fortune Cookie | Nominated |
| Year | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Best Screenplay | Avanti! | Nominated |
