An American screenwriter and producer, born in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Hollywood Hills High School. He also attended St. John's College and lived for a period in England, France, and Greece. He independently studied civil liberties in European criminal justice systems before returning to the United States to study law at Yale Law School. He then obtained his doctorate in 1976. He worked as a talent manager and studio head, as he started a partnership with director Blake Edwards. Some of his credits include Look Who's Talking Now (1993) and Face/Off (1997). He died on August 1, 2016.