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Frederic Wakeman
Frederic E. Wakeman (December 26, 1909 - October 26, 1998) was an American novelist, writer and director. He was the father of Frederic E. Wakeman, Jr. (1937-2006), a prominent American scholar of ...view moreFrederic E. Wakeman (December 26, 1909 - October 26, 1998) was an American novelist, writer and director. He was the father of Frederic E. Wakeman, Jr. (1937-2006), a prominent American scholar of East Asian history and Professor of History at University of California, Berkeley.
Wakeman began his career in the advertising industry and left Lord & Thomas (today FCB, one of the largest global advertising agency networks) to serve in the United States Navy in the Pacific from 1942-1943. Whilst recovering in a Naval Hospital, he wrote his first novel, Shore Leave (1944), basing the character of Andy Crewson on an actual decorated Naviator. In 1945, the recently discharged Luther Davis acquired the rights to the novel and turned it into a play titled Kiss Them for Me. It ran for 110 performances from March 20, 1945 to June 23, 1945, featuring Richard Widmark as Crewson and Judy Holliday as Alice, and the success of the novel and play led Wakeman to a seven-year writer contract with MGM. The novel and play were also eventually made into the 1957 film Kiss Them for Me, starring Cary Grant and Jayne Mansfield.
Whilst at MGM, Wakeman wrote his second novel, The Hucksters (1947), which was released as a film the same year by MGM and starred Clark Gable and Deborah Kerr. His third novel, The Saxon Charm (1947), was made also filmed in 1948 and starred Robert Montgomery and Susan Hayward in the leading roles.
Wakeman also wrote and directed the 1968 Greek film One Day, My Daddy (original title: Mia mera, o pateras mou), starring Ellie Lambeti, Roger Browne and John Turner.
His other notable literary works include The Wastrel (1949); The Fabulous Train (1955); Mandrake Root (1953); Deluxe Tour (1956); Verginia Q (1959); The Fault of the Apple (1960); and The Flute Across the Pond (1966).
He passed away in 1998 in Stuart, Martin County, Florida, at the age of 88.view less