Hal Sitowitz, 71; Television Writer, Producer and Director

Hal Sitowitz, 71, a television writer, producer and director who wrote a memorable “Gunsmoke” episode starring Bette Davis and tackled social issues in TV movies such as “In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan,” died of lung cancer Oct. 31 at his home in Beverly Hills.

Sitowitz wrote “The Jailer,” the 1966 “Gunsmoke” episode in which film icon Davis made a rare TV appearance as a revengeful Old West matriarch who kidnaps Matt Dillon’s love interest, Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake). A 1973 “Gunsmoke” episode written by Sitowitz, about an immigrant Russian Jewish family, won him the National Media Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

Sitowitz received a Writers Guild of America award nomination for “In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan,” a 1977 TV movie based on the true story of two New Jersey parents who must decide whether to keep their comatose daughter alive on life support systems.

Sitowitz often dealt with controversial issues in his TV movies, including the emotional aftermath of rape (“The Face of Rage”); teenage suicide (“Last Cry for Help”); and teenage prostitution (“Little Ladies of the Night”). He also wrote, produced and directed episodes of TV series such as “Cimarron Strip,” “The Rookies,” “Streets of San Francisco” and “Cannon.”

Born in the Bronx, Sitowitz joined the Navy at 17 and began his career as an actor. Before launching his writing career in the early ‘60s, he was a founding member of the original Angels Theatre, an L.A. acting company formed by Richard Chamberlain, Sally Kellerman, Leonard Nimoy and other actors.