Writer John J. Furia Passes
TV Veteran, WGA Leader
Writer John J. Furia, Jr. Passes
TV Veteran, WGA Leader
Prolific motion picture and television writer John Furia, Jr, who wrote for such series as Bonanza, The Waltons and Hawaii Five-O died May 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. He was 79.
Furia, a longtime advocate for Hollywood writers, served as president of the Writers Guild of America, West, from 1973-1975.
He was also a founding chairman of University of Southern California’s School of Cinema-Television Writing Division, where he taught film and television writing.
Born in 1929, Furia started his career singing with dance bands in New York City. He later moved to California, where he turned to writing and became one of Hollywood’s busiest dramatists.
Furia is survived by his wife, Mary, and seven children.
A more detailed obituary is available at http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003416.html?categoryId=25&cs=1