Sidney Sheldon

Date of Birth: February 11, 1917

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: January 30, 2007

Biography

Sidney Sheldon was an acclaimed American writer, screenwriter, and producer, best known for his thrilling novels, which have sold over 300 million copies worldwide. Born Sidney Schechtel on February 11, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, he showed an early interest in writing and began his career in the entertainment industry at a young age. During World War II, Sheldon served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces. After the war, he made a name for himself in Hollywood, writing screenplays for successful movies and creating popular television series such as “The Patty Duke Show” and “I Dream of Jeannie.” It was not until he was 50 years old that Sheldon turned to writing novels. His first novel, “The Naked Face,” was published in 1970 and earned him an Edgar Award nomination. His subsequent novels, including bestsellers like “The Other Side of Midnight,” “Rage of Angels,” and “Master of the Game,” solidified his reputation as a master of the suspense genre. Known for his ability to craft intricate plots and memorable characters, Sheldon became one of the best-selling authors of all time. He continued to write until his death on January 30, 2007, in Rancho Mirage, California.

5 Interesting Facts about Sidney Sheldon

1. Sidney Sheldon won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film “The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer” in 1947.

2. He created the iconic TV show “I Dream of Jeannie,” which aired from 1965 to 1970.

3. Sheldon wrote 18 novels, all of which became bestsellers.

4. He was married three times and had one daughter, Mary Sheldon, who is also an author.

5. Sheldon was one of the first writers to transition successfully from writing for film and television to penning blockbuster novels.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Sidney Sheldon

1. “I try to write my books so the reader can’t put them down.”

2. “The foolish think that because a thing is written down, it is true.”

3. “The part of my writing that is the hardest is the first draft. I do a lot of rewrites.”

4. “I always spend a lot of time with my characters before I begin writing about them.”

5. “A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At his peak, Sidney Sheldon’s net worth was estimated to be around $300 million.

Children

Sidney Sheldon had one daughter, Mary Sheldon, with his second wife, Jorja Curtright. Mary Sheldon followed in her father’s footsteps and became an accomplished author in her own right, writing both novels and children’s books.