Trivia

Son of Margaret Abott, first ever female gold medalist, who won the golf competition at the 1900 Olympic Games.

Younger brother of writer Finley Peter Dunne Jr.

Son of "Finley Peter Dunne", the Irish-American editor and humorist who is perhaps best known for having created the character "Mr. Dooley the saloon-keeper".

Father, with Amanda Duff, of Miranda, Philippa Dunne and Jessica Dunne.

During his later years worked as a syndicated columnist and essayist for "The Los Angeles Times" and "Time" magazine, on a variety of subjects ranging from astronomy to music and aviation.

Along with director William Wyler and John Huston, he formed the Committee for the First Amendment to protest the procedures of the House Un-American Activities Committee.

His Malibu (CA) home was a social and political hot spot for Hollywood's liberal and progressive activists for decades, notably during the Sen. Joseph McCarthy-led "Red Scare" era of the 1950s and the Vietnam war era. Meetings were held for both local and national issues.

During World War II headed the Motion Picture Bureau of the Office of War Information.

One of the founders of the American Screen Writer's Guild.