Norman Katkov, writer of short stories, novels, screenplays, and teleplays, was born July 26, 1918, in the Soviet Union, to Hyman and Milia (Radovolsky) Kateekoffsky. He has three brothers: Morris and Harold, both doctors; and Robert, an aerospace technologist. The Kateekoffsky family immigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota, when Norman was two years old. Growing up in St. Paul, Katkov attended public schools, and in 1940 graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism. He then served in the United States Army at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and was editor of the Fort Snelling Bulletin.
Upon discharge from the Army in 1943, Katkov worked for a time as a reporter for the St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press and later for the New York World-Telegram. A prolific short story writer, Katkov began to have his short stories published in 1944 by some of the most popular periodicals of the day, among them the Saturday Evening Post, Collier's, and Esquire. Since that time one or more of his over one-hundred published short stories has appeared in almost every major American feature magazine.
After leaving the World Telegram in 1948, Katkov continued to write short stories and began to try his hand at novels. His first success was Eagle at Eyes, the intense story of an inter-faith love affair, published in 1948. He went on to write A Little Sleep, a Little Slumber (1949), the story of a Jewish immigrant who entered the United States illegally because he wanted to raise a family in America. Katkov's next major effort was an intimate biography of the late Fanny Brice, The Fabulous Fanny, published in 1953. After unsuccessful attempts at two novels and a play, Katkov's most satisfying literary achievement and biggest seller, Eric Mattson, was published in 1964, following three and a half years of painstaking attention. The novel revolves around a dedicated young surgeon who becomes inextricably entwined in love and his efforts to advance surgery and his knowledge of it.
In the late 1950's, after moving to Los Angeles, California, from Westport, Connecticut, Katkov, in an effort to diversify his talents, went to work on several film projects, the most notable of which was It Happened to Jane, starring Doris Day and Jack Lemmon, released in 1959. He also began in the mid-1950's to work steadily as a television writer for several different series, among them Ben Casey (for one episode of which, “A Cardinal Act of Mercy,” Katkov received an Emmy nomination), Slattery's People, The 87th Precinct, Ironside, Maya, and Wanted: Dead or Alive.
Katkov has been married to the former Betty Nelson since August 20, 1951. They have two sons, Richard and William.
