This page uses content from the Norman Wexler biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Norman Wexler (16 August, 1926 - 23 August 1999) was a screenwriter whose work included such films as Saturday Night Fever and Serpico.

Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Wexler attended Harvard University.

His distinction as a writer: many of his scripts were commercially very successful low budget hits that at the same time received critical acclaim and have stood the test of time. His "Joe" and "Serpico", each made by different directors with different casts, nevertheless were significant hits that launched or enhanced careers. He received Oscar nominations for both works.

He wrote "Saturday Night Fever", which generated earnings in excess of $1.2B in today's dollars when both movie and record album sales are counted, more than double US sales of top box office hit "Titanic" -- which had a huge budget and costly special effects.

He was reported to have suffered from severe mental illness, and was arrested in 1972 for threatening to shoot President Richard Nixon. He served as partial inspiration for Andy Kaufman's character Tony Clifton. He was also the mysterious "Mr. X" in Bob Zmuda's biography of Andy Kaufman, "Andy Kaufman Revealed." According to Zmuda, Wexler was quite wealthy, owing to his work as a script doctor.

Wexler died of a heart attack at age 73.

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