Robert Alan Aurthur was an American screenwriter, film director, and producer renowned for his work in television and film. Raised in Freeport, New York, he initially pursued pre-medical studies at the University of Pennsylvania but left to serve as a combat correspondent in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Aurthur's early television writing included episodes for Studio One and Mister Peepers. He gained acclaim for his teleplay A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (1955), which was adapted into the film Edge of the City (1957). His film credits include Warlock (1959), Grand Prix (1966), and The Lost Man (1969), which he wrote and directed. Aurthur co-wrote and produced All That Jazz (1979), receiving two posthumous Academy Award nominations. He was married to actress Bea Arthur from 1947 to 1950. Aurthur passed away from lung cancer in New York City at the age of 56.