William Bast, Writer for TV Who Penned James Dean Bios,
Dies at 84
Variety
By Carmel Dagan
May 7, 2015
William Bast, who wrote extensively for both film and TV
and was also known for his two biographies of James Dean, died of complications
from Alzheimer’s on May 4. He was 84.
Bast wrote scripts for episodes of series including
“Combat!,” “Perry Mason,” “Ben Casey,” “The Outer Limits,” “Alfred Hitchcock
Presents,” “Honey West,” “Dr. Kildare,” “The Mod Squad” and “It Takes a Thief.”
He also wrote scripts for the BBC and British Independent Television, adapted
Jean Giradoux’s play “Tiger at the Gates” for Granada Television and wrote
episodes for classic series “The Prisoner.”
In 1976 he received the Mystery Writers of America Edgar
Allan Poe Award for his telepic “The Legend of Lizzie Borden,” starring
Elizabeth Montgomery. His 1977 adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ “The Man in the
Iron Mask,” with Richard Chamberlain in the dual role, was nominated for an
Emmy, and in 1982 his script for “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” with Anthony Andrews
and Ian McKellen, was honored with a Christopher Award. In 1984, his script for
the miniseries “The First Modern Olympics” won him the Writers Guild Award for
outstanding script for TV longform series.
From 1985-87 Bast wrote and produced, with his partner
Paul Huson, “The Colbys,” a spinoff from the ABC series “Dynasty.” With Huson
he also wrote and produced a variety of television movies and series including
“Tucker’s Witch,” “The Hamptons,” “Pursuit,” “The Big One: The Great Los
Angeles Earthquake,” “Power and Beauty” and “The Fury Within.”
Bast’s film credits include the script for 1969’s “The Valley
of Gwangi,” “Hammerhead” and the 1978 adaptation of Harold Robbins’ “The
Betsy,” which starred Laurence Olivier and Robert Duvall.
Born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Bast moved to Los Angeles
to study theater arts at UCLA. There he met and became a close friend of actor
James Dean. When Dean died, Bast wrote a highly regarded biography of his
friend entitled “James Dean: A Biography.” In 2006, he wrote a second, more
candid, book about his relationship with Dean entitled “Surviving James Dean.”
Bast is survived by his partner of 48 years, Paul Huson;
his brother; and a niece.
BAST, William E.
Born: 4/3/1931, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Died: 5/4/2015, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
William E. Bast’s western – screenwriter:
The Valley of Gwangi - 1968 [co-screenwriter]
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