Rear Window Writer Dies

John Michael Hayes RIP

Nov 25th 2008 By Total Film

Sad news to relate this morning as John Michael Hayes, the writer who worked on classic films such as Rear Window and Peyton Place, has died aged 89.

The screenwriter, who also worked with Alfred Hitchcock on To Catch A Thief and The Trouble With Harry, continued writing up until 1994, with Iron Will.

Born in Massachusetts, Hayes started his writing career on newspapers and radio and cracked Hollywood with a job on Lucille Ball’s radio show M Favourite Husband

Universal

The radio work led to a contract with Universal in the 1950s. After giving up regular assignments, he became involved with Dartmouth College’s film studies program, aimed at teaching new young writers his skills.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, he died of natural causes in the early hours of the morning and he’ll be sorely missed.