A. E. Hotchner

Career overview

Aaron Edward Hotchner was an American writer, editor, novelist, playwright, and biographer. Born on June 28, 1917, in St. Louis, Missouri, he built a notable career in writing and producing across television, theater, and literature. His work encompassed numerous television screenplays and teleplays, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, where he adapted works by Ernest Hemingway. Among his television and film credits are adaptations such as The Snows of Kilimanjaro, The Killers, The Fifth Column, and After the Storm, as well as work on Playhouse 90 and Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man.

Hotchner is best known for his 1966 biography titled Papa Hemingway, alongside other biographical works concerning Doris Day and Ernest Hemingway. In addition to his screenwriting and biographies, his play Sweet Prince was produced Off-Broadway in 1982 at the Theater Off-Park, with a cast starring Keir Dullea and Ian Abercrombie. Outside of his literary and dramatic pursuits, he co-founded the charity food company Newman's Own alongside actor Paul Newman. Hotchner accumulated 19 known writing credits throughout his career on the screen. He passed away on February 15, 2020, at the age of 102 in Westport, Connecticut.