- Born
- Died
- Birth nameLeon Marcus Uris
- Leon Uris was born on August 3, 1924 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Topaz (1969), Exodus (1960) and The Angry Hills (1959). He was married to Jill Peabody, Margery Edwards and Betty Katherine Beck. He died on June 21, 2003 in Shelter Island, New York, USA.
- SpousesJill Peabody(February 15, 1970 - May 1989) (divorced, 2 children)Margery Edwards(September 8, 1968 - February 20, 1969) (her death)Betty Katherine Beck(January 5, 1945 - January 1968) (divorced, 3 children)
- Served as a radio operator in the campaigns on Guadalcanal and Tarawa, while in the Marines.
- He wrote first-draft screenplays for the movie versions of both "Exodus" and "Topaz", based on his novels; it was part of his agreements with the film companies that he should. However, the directors of the two films, respectively Otto Preminger and Alfred Hitchcock, both rejected his efforts out of hand and started again with different writers. As a result, Uris was dismissive of both films.
- Was friends with author Howard Bloom. He endorsed Howards' book The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History, calling it "An act of astonishing intellectual courage.".
- MGM announced it planned to produce Uris' best seller, "Armageddon" during their 40th Anniversary celebration in 1964 but the project was quietly shelved during a period of studio belt-tightening the following year.
- Three children with Betty Beck: Karen, Mark and Michael.
- I was tough. I used everything to my advantage. I could be very ruthless.
- Often we have no time for our friends but all the time in the world for our enemies.
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