Stirling Silliphant
Biography
Stirling Dale Silliphant was an American screenwriter and producer. Born in Detroit, Michigan on January 16, 1918, his life spanned until his death on April 26, 1996. He is best remembered for his screenplay for In the Heat of the Night, which earned him an Academy Award in 1967. In addition to his feature film work, which includes writing the Irwin Allen productions The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure, he created the television series Naked City, Perry Mason, and Route 66. During the 1950s and 1960s, his television script credits also included Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Tightrope, and Alcoa Goodyear Theatre. Over the course of his career, he accumulated numerous known credits as a writer.
Career overview
Stirling Dale Silliphant was an American screenwriter and producer born in Detroit, Michigan, on January 16, 1918, who died on April 26, 1996. During his career, he built a substantial body of work in both television and feature films. In television, it often seemed during the 1950s and 1960s that every show was written by him, with scripts contributed to programs such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Tightrope, and Alcoa Goodyear Theatre. He is also recognized for creating the television series Naked City, Perry Mason, and Route 66.
In feature films, Silliphant is best remembered for his screenplay for In the Heat of the Night, an achievement for which he won an Academy Award in 1967. His other feature film credits as a screenwriter include the Irwin Allen productions The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure. Throughout his career, his writing credits reached a total of sixty-four, cementing his legacy as a prominent figure in American screenwriting and television production.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Stirling Silliphant.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
80 titles- The General And Me (2017) Writer
- The Grass Harp (1996) Screenplay
- The Grass Harp (1996) Co-Producer
- Day of Reckoning (1994) Writer
- A Stranger in the Mirror (1993) Teleplay
- Salween (1993) Writer
- Brotherhood of the Rose (1989) Producer
- Over the Top (1987) Screenplay
- Catch the Heat (1987) Writer
- Catch the Heat (1987) Executive Producer
- The Three Kings (1987) Writer
- Mussolini: The Untold Story (1985) Writer
- Space (1985) Teleplay
- Travis McGee (1983) Teleplay
- Fly Away Home (1981) Writer
- Fly Away Home (1981) Producer
- Golden Gate (1981) Writer
- When Time Ran Out... (1980) Screenplay
- Salem's Lot (1979) Executive Producer
- Pearl (1978) Writer
- The Swarm (1978) Screenplay
- Circle of Iron (1978) Screenplay
- Circle of Iron (1978) Story
- Telefon (1977) Screenplay
- The Enforcer (1976) Screenplay
- The Killer Elite (1975) Screenplay
- Death Scream (1975) Writer
- The First 36 Hours of Dr. Durant (1975) Writer
- The Towering Inferno (1974) Screenplay
- Shaft in Africa (1973) Writer
- Shaft in Africa (1973) Producer
- A Time For Love (1973) Writer
- A Time For Love (1973) Producer
- A Time For Love (1973) Director
- The Poseidon Adventure (1972) Screenplay
- The New Centurions (1972) Screenplay
- The New Healers (1972) Creator
- The New Healers (1972) Writer
- The New Healers (1972) Producer
- Movin' On (1972) Original Series Creator
- Longstreet (1971) Writer
- Longstreet (1971) Producer
- Longstreet (1971) Creator
- Shaft (1971) Executive Producer
- Murphy's War (1971) Screenplay
- Longstreet (1971) Writer
- The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970) Screenplay
- A Walk in the Spring Rain (1970) Screenplay
- A Walk in the Spring Rain (1970) Producer
- Marlowe (1969) Screenplay
- Charly (1968) Screenplay
- In the Heat of the Night (1967) Screenplay
- Wings of Fire (1967) Writer
- The Slender Thread (1965) Writer
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) Writer
- Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing (1962) Writer
- Route 66 (1960) Writer
- Route 66 (1960) Creator
- Village of the Damned (1960) Screenplay
- Mr. Lucky (1959) Writer
- The Man from Blackhawk (1959) Creator
- The Silent Kill (1959) Writer
- Naked City (1958) Writer
- Naked City (1958) Creator
- Maracaibo (1958) Screenplay
- The Lineup (1958) Writer
- Damn Citizen (1958) Writer
- Perry Mason (1957) Writer
- Suspicion (1957) Writer
- M Squad (1957) Writer
- Alcoa Theatre (1957) Writer
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) Writer
- Huk! (1956) Screenplay
- Huk! (1956) Novel
- Nightfall (1956) Writer
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) Writer
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) Teleplay
- 5 Against the House (1955) Screenplay
- 5 Against the House (1955) Producer
- The Joe Louis Story (1953) Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Stirling Silliphant best known for?
Stirling Silliphant is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including MTV Video Music Awards (1984), MTV Video Music Awards (1984), Brotherhood of the Rose (1989), Over the Top (1987).
When and where was Stirling Silliphant born?
Stirling Silliphant was born on January 15, 1918 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. They passed away on April 26, 1996.
How many credits does Stirling Silliphant have?
Stirling Silliphant has accumulated over 80 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2017.
What is Stirling Silliphant's background in cinema and television?
Stirling Dale Silliphant was an American screenwriter and producer. Born in Detroit, Michigan on January 16, 1918, his life spanned until his death on April 26, 1996. He is best remembered for his screenplay for In the Heat of the Night, which earned him an Academy Award in 1967. In addition to his feature film work, w...
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Stirling Silliphant.