Film Writer Sy Salkowitz Dies

Sy Salkowitz, 65, former president of 20th Century Fox Television, died at his Rancho Santa Fe home on Thursday.

The Philadelphia native began his television and screen writing career in 1956 on the Erroll Flynn Theatre. Salkowitz wrote more than 350 episodes for such series as “Naked City,” “Mission Impossible,” “Perry Mason,” “Police Story,” “The Untouchables,” “The Virginian” and “Ironsides.”

As Fox president from 1976-1981, he was responsible for such productions as Mash and Paper Chase, an entertainment industry spokesman said.

Salkowitz won the Edgar Allen Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1974 for his writing. His most recent work includes an episode of “Columbo” which aired last season and a novel “Rachel’s Game” to be published in March.

Salkowitz was graduated from Yale in 1940 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology. His scripts and papers have been bequeathed to the Wisconsin Center for Theatre Research at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Salkowitz is survived by his parents and two brothers, his wife Patricia Q. Salkowitz, children Lezlie Montoya, Victor Salkowitz and Tracy Salkowitz-Pressman, and three grandchildren.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to cancer research at UC San Diego or the San Diego Hospice.