Robert Pirosh

(1951), a film about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

• Name — Robert Pirosh • Born — 1 April 1910 • Birthplace — Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. • Died — 25 December 1989 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Occupation — * Screenwriter • film director • Years Active — 1935–1981 • Alma Mater — Baltimore City College high school in 1928 • Spouse — Nancy Wilson (1948–1966)

Pirosh was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from the Baltimore City College high school in 1928. His preparation for a career in Hollywood included study at the Sorbonne in France and the University of Berlin in Germany. When he began looking for work in Hollywood, he used a cover letter that began "Dear Sir, I like words" and concluded, I like the word screenwriter better than copywriter, so I decided to quit my job in a New York advertising agency and try my luck in Hollywood, but before taking the plunge I went to Europe for a year of study, contemplation and horsing around. I have just returned and I still like words. May I have a few with you? The letter later featured in the book Letters of Note and in 2014 was described by its editor, Shaun Usher, as his "current favorite" and was read by Benedict Cumberbatch at 'Letters Live'.

Pirosh was inducted into the U.S. Army from Los Angeles, California, on June 26, 1943. He joined the 320th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, as a replacement during the Battle of the Bulge on December 28, 1944. During the battle, he kept a war journal, which later formed the basis for the 1949 film Battleground.

He earned an Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay in 1949 for his script for the World War II drama Battleground, a film he also produced, that was the first based on the Ardennes battle. His work was also honored in other venues that year. Pirosh won the Golden Globe and the Writers Guild of America awards. In 1951, he was nominated for another Academy Award for the screenplay Go for Broke!. This was his directorial debut. He would go on to write the story for the highly regarded Steve McQueen World War II film Hell Is for Heroes, directed by Don Siegel, believed to be the basis for TV's Combat! (which he created). He also directed 1954's Valley of the Kings and 1955's The Girl Rush. Pirosh wrote the episode "The Man From Leadville" for the 1976 CBS western television series Sara.

• The Winning Ticket (1935) – story • A Night at the Opera (1935) – writer (uncredited) • A Day at the Races (1937) – writer • The Wizard of Oz (1939) – writer (uncredited) • The Quarterback (1940) – writer • The Night of January 16th (1941) – writer • Song of the Islands (1942) – writer • Rings on Her Fingers (1942) – writer • I Married a Witch (1942) – writer • Up in Arms (1944) – writer • Man About Town (1947) (US version) – associate producer • Battleground (1949) – story, writer, associate producer • Go for Broke! (1951) – writer, director • Washington Story (1952) – writer, director • Valley of the Kings (1954) – writer, director • The Girl Rush (1955) – writer, director • Spring Reunion (1957) – writer, director • Laramie (1959) (TV series) – writer, producer • The Law and Mr. Jones (1960–61) (TV series) – writer • Bachelor Father (1961) (TV series) – writer • Hell Is for Heroes (1962) – story, writer • A Gathering of Eagles (1963) – writer • Combat! (1962–67) (TV series) – producer, writer, series development • The Fugitive (1963) (TV series) – writer • Alexander the Great (1963) – story, writer • The Guns of Will Sonnett (1968) (TV series) – writer • What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968) – writer • The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969) (TV series) – writer • Family Affair (1970) (TV series) – writer • To Rome with Love (1970) (TV series) – writer • Ironside (1968–71) (TV series) – writer • My Three Sons (1971) (TV series) – writer • Bonanza (1970–72) (TV series) – writer • Mannix (1970–74) (TV series) – writer • Twice in a Lifetime (1974) (TV movie) – writer • Firehouse (1974) (TV series) – writer • Barnaby Jones (1974) (TV series) – writer • Ellery Queen (1975) (TV series) – writer • The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977) (TV series) – writer • Hawaii Five-O (1977) (TV series) – writer • The Oregon Trail (1977) (TV series) – writer • The Young Pioneers (1978) (TV series) – writer • The Waltons (1979–81) (TV series) – writer • Harry O (1975) (TV series) – writer