Date of Birth: February 28, 1894
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: April 18, 1964
Biography
Ben Hecht was an American screenwriter, director, producer, playwright, journalist, and novelist, widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s greatest and most prolific writers. Born in New York City, Hecht grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, and began his career as a reporter in Chicago, where he became known for his bold and flamboyant writing style. He moved to Hollywood in the 1920s and quickly made a name for himself as a screenwriter, contributing to the scripts of such classic films as “Scarface” (1932), “Design for Living” (1933), “Twentieth Century” (1934), and “Notorious” (1946). Hecht was known for his wit, his mastery of dialogue, and his ability to craft compelling stories. Throughout his career, he won two Academy Awards for Best Original Story and was nominated for several others. Hecht also wrote several novels and plays, including the enduringly popular “The Front Page” (1928), co-written with Charles MacArthur. Hecht remained an influential figure in the world of American letters until his death in 1964.
5 Interesting Facts about Ben Hecht
1. Ben Hecht won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Original Story for his work on “Underworld” (1927).
2. He was a fierce advocate for Jewish causes and worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the plight of European Jews during World War II.
3. Hecht was a co-writer of the famous anti-Nazi film “The Great Dictator” (1940) directed by Charlie Chaplin.
4. Hecht was known for his rapid writing pace; he once wrote the screenplay for “Gone with the Wind” in just five days.
5. He collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock on numerous films, including the classics “Notorious” (1946) and “Spellbound” (1945).
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ben Hecht
1. “Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock.”
2. “Movies are one of the bad habits that corrupted our century.”
3. “The only way to write a play is to go by yourself into a room and close the door.”
4. “People’s sex habits are as well known in Hollywood as their political views, and much less criticized.”
5. “Hollywood had always been a cage … a cage to catch our dreams.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the height of his career, Ben Hecht’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.
Children
Ben Hecht had two children: a daughter, Jenny Hecht (1931–1971), and a son, Timothy Hecht.
Relevant Links
1. [Ben Hecht – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372942/
2. [Ben Hecht – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hecht
3. [Ben Hecht Papers – Newberry Library](https://www.newberry.org/ben-hecht-papers
