Versatile and Prolific Writer Tom Mankiewicz Passes

Tom Mankiewicz, a screenwriter known for his work on feature films — including James Bond and Superman movies — and the television series Hart to Hart, died July 31, 2010, in Los Angeles at age 68. The cause of death was cancer.

The scion of a movie family — his father, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, won Oscars for writing and directing Alll About Eve and his uncle Herman won an Oscar for writing Citizen Kane — he thrived in the family business. Born June 1, 1942, he grew up around the industry and began his career He as a production assistant on The Comancheros, a 1961 film starring John Wayne. He was also credited as a production associate on the 1964 film The Best Man, starring Henry Fonda.

Like his father and uncle, he eventually gravitated toward writing, and he enjoyed his first major success with the 1970 James Bond adventure Diamonds Are Forever. He went on to write the Bond films Live and Let Die and The Man With the Golden Gun, as well as uncredited work on The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker.

He earned a reputation as a script doctor when he helped to rewrite the nautical drama The Deep. He then helped director Richard Donner to revamp the scripts for Superman and Superman II.

Other films he wrote or co-wrote include The Cassandra Crossing and The Eagle Has Landed.

Years later, in 1987, a wrote the feature-film adaptation of the TV series Dragnet, starring Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd

Mankiewicz also flourished in television as a writer and director of episodes of the series Hart to Hart, starring Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers. He also was a creative consultant for all five seasons.

From 1979 to 1980, Mankiewicz served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. He was also a trustee-professor at Chapman University in Los Angeles, teaching filmmaking to graduate students.

Mankiewicz was also chair of the board of trustees of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo.

Survivors include a brother and a sister.