ROSE, Reginald 1920-2002

OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for CA sketch: Born December 10, 1920, in New York, NY; died April 19, 2002, in Norwich, CT. Screenwriter. Rose wrote numerous television scripts that were well received over the years, but is most famous for one of his earliest: Twelve Angry Men. The story became a movie starring Henry Fonda and garnered Rose an Academy Award nomination for best screenplay based on material from another medium. What became an illustrious career began in New York City, with Rose attending what is now City University of New York for one year during the 1930s. He did a four-year stint in the U.S. Army, becoming a first lieutenant, then returned to writing and tried to get into advertising while completing short stories on the side. His first script, The Bus to Nowhere for the Out There series on CBS, was sold in 1951. He wrote several scripts for the Studio One series, also on CBS, including Dino and The Death and Life of Larry Benson. Then, in 1954, inspired by his own experience on a jury, Rose wrote Twelve Angry Men. The film recounts the story of eleven jurors convinced of the guilt of a man accused of killing his father, but who are eventually persuaded by Juror Number Eight—after a hot day of shouting and cajoling—that the evidence doesn't add up and the man is innocent. The story was a hit on television and netted Rose an Emmy for best-written drama and a Writer's Guild of America Award, went to the stage in London, and made it to Hollywood as a film whose script was written by Rose. Co-produced by Rose and Fonda and directed by Sidney Lumet, the film also was nominated for best picture Oscar. Rose's successful run of television scripts later included the pilot (and subsequent episodes) for The Defender, A Quiet Game of Cards, and the Studs Lonigan miniseries. He received four additional Emmy nominations during his career. His screenplays include Somebody Killed Her Husband, The Wild Geese (based on a novel by Daniel Carney), and Whose Life Is It Anyway, starring Richard Dreyfuss.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Los Angeles Times, April 23, 2002, p. B10.

New York Times, April 21, 2002, p. A33.

Times (London, England), May 11, 2002.

Washington Post, April 23, 2002, p. B6.