Nedrick Young
Nedrick Young (March 23, 1914 – September 16, 1968), also known by the pseudonym Nathan E. Douglas, was an American actor and screenwriter often blacklisted during the 1950s and 1960s for refusing to confirm or deny membership of the Communist Party before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA). He is credited with writing the story for Jailhouse Rock in 1957, which starred Elvis Presley. Young was born in Philadelphia.
Also recorded as Nathan E. Douglas
Nedrick Young
film screenshot (Craftsman Productions) · Public domain
- Name
- Nedrick Young
- Born
- 23 March 1914
- Birthplace
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Died
- 16 September 1968
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- * Actor
- Spouse
- Frances Sage (m. married 19??; died 1963)
- Awards
- Academy Award - Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen 1958 The Defiant Ones
- Nationality
- United States
- Honours
- Writers Guild of America Award · Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay · Academy Award for Best Writing and Original Screenplay · Edgar Awards
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Nedrick Young (March 23, 1914 – September 16, 1968), also known by the pseudonym Nathan E. Douglas, was an American actor and screenwriter often blacklisted during the 1950s and 1960s for refusing to confirm or deny membership of the Communist Party before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA). He is credited with writing the story for Jailhouse Rock in 1957, which starred Elvis Presley. Young was born in Philadelphia.
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wikidata · Q1616820 · wikipedia · Nedrick Young
In this article
Biography
Biography
In addition to screenwriting, he took acting roles in various feature-length films from 1943 to 1966.
The recorded working language is English. Work by Nedrick Young is recorded in the collections of Harvard Film Archive. Distinctions recorded are Writers Guild of America Award, Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay, Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay and Edgar Awards.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Nedrick Young • Born — 23 March 1914 • Birthplace — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Died — 16 September 1968 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Other Names — Nathan E. Douglas • Occupation — * Actor • screenwriter • Years Active — 1943–1968 • Spouse — Frances Sage (m. married 19??; died 1963) • Awards — Academy Award - Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen 1958 The Defiant Ones
Recognition
Recognition
The Defiant Ones received an Oscar for the "best screenplay written directly for the screen" in 1958. For the same film, Young and co-writer Harold Jacob Smith won a 1959 Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay, from the Mystery Writers of America. Inherit the Wind was also nominated for, but did not win, an Academy Award in 1960. The same year, he and others brought a lawsuit against the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) for 13 years of blacklisting. The suit was not successful.
Filmography
Filmography
Actor • 1943: Bombs Over Burma - Slim Jenkins • 1943: Dead Men Walk - Dr. David Bentley • 1943: Ladies' Day - Tony D'Angelo • 1946: Gay Blades - Gary Lester • 1946: The Devil's Playground - Curly Evans • 1947: Unexpected Guest - Ralph Baxter • 1948: The Swordsman - Bruce Glowan • 1948: The Gallant Blade - Sergeant Martine • 1949: Calamity Jane and Sam Bass - Parsons (uncredited) • 1949: Border Incident - Happy (uncredited) • 1950: Gun Crazy - Dave Allister • 1950: Love That Brute - Rocky (uncredited) • 1950: A Lady Without Passport - Harry Nordell • 1951: Inside Straight - Accountant (uncredited) • 1952: Retreat, Hell! - Sgt. Novak (credited: Ned Young) • 1952: Aladdin and His Lamp - Hassan • 1952: Springfield Rifle - Sgt. Poole (uncredited) • 1952: The Iron Mistress - Henri Contrecourt • 1953: She's Back on Broadway - Rafferty • 1953: Captain Scarlett - Pierre DuCloux • 1953: House of Wax - Leon Averill (uncredited) • 1953: So This Is Love - Harry Corbett (uncredited) • 1953: Crime Wave - Gat Morgan • 1953: The Eddie Cantor Story - Jack (uncredited) • 1958: The Defiant Ones - Prison Guard in Truck (uncredited) • 1958: Terror in a Texas Town - John Crale • 1966: Seconds - Henry Bushman Screenplay • 1957: Jailhouse Rock • 1958: The Defiant Ones • 1960: Inherit the Wind • 1968: Shadow on the Land
Personal life
Personal life
He was married to actress Elizabeth MacRae. After several years of heart trouble, Young died suddenly of a heart attack.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1914
Nedrick Young born at Philadelphia.
1968
Nedrick Young died at Los Angeles.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Philadelphia.
Birth place
Los Angeles.
Death place
Where the work is held
Recognition and collections
Nedrick Young received Writers Guild of America Award, Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay, Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay and Edgar Awards. Identity and origins. He also worked under the name Nathan E. The authorities additionally record the heading Nathan E. His recorded language was English. He married Elizabeth MacRae.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Nedrick Young Writes Again After Being on Blacklist. Ocala Star-Banner. 9 url. 1960.
- 2.Nedrick Young et al., Appellants, v. Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., et al., Appellees, 299 F.2d 119 (D.C. Cir. 1962). Justia. 1962.
- 3.Hollywood's Blacklists. Edinburgh University Press. 2010. 9780748624560.
- 4.Nedrick Young. www.oscars.org. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
References
Citations
References
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Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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