Sidney Schechtel was born in Chicago, Illinois, on the 11th of February 1917. He went to Northwestern University in Chicago where he began writing scripts for plays. His education complete, Sidney began working as a writer on films and musicals, winning an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 1947. He then moved into TV and wrote such hits as I Dream of Jeannie and Hart to Hart..
He wrote his first novel, The Naked Face, in 1969. 17 more novels followed which have sold over 300 million copies. He also wrote 10 films and 7 Broadway and West End plays. In addition there is also Sheldon’s autobiography, The Other Side of Me, in which he reveals his struggles with bipolar disorder. He died on the 30th of January 2007 at the age of 89.
Sidney Sheldon's early life was devoted to TV screenwriting - it was not until after 50 that he turned his attention to writing novels. The Los Angeles Times called him Mr. Blockbuster and Prince of Potboilers. How much do you know about the man and his creations? Test yourself in this quiz.