Sidney Sheldon was born in Chicago, Ill. on February 11, 1917, the son of Otto and Natilie Sheldon. His father was a salesman. He attended grade and high schools in Chicago and Northwestern University (1935-1936) in Evanston, Ill. Before becoming established in the theater, Sheldon served as a cadet pilot in the War Training Service, and worked at odd jobs as an usher, shoe salesman, factory worker, and barker.
In 1943, Mr. Sheldon, with Ben Roberts, wrote a theatrical adaptation of The Merry Widow, and with Dorothy and Herbert Fields and David Shaw wrote the book for Redhead (1959). He also wrote Roman Candle (1960). For the film industry, Sheldon wrote The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer (RKO 1947); Easter Parade (MGM 1948); Annie Get Your Gun (MGM 1950); Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM 1951); Dream Wife, which he also directed (MGM 1953); Anything Goes (Paramount 1956); Never Too Young (Paramount 1956); The Buster Keaton Story, which he also directed (Paramount 1957); and Billy Rose's Jambo (MGM 1962). In the field of television, Mr. Sheldon wrote for The Patty Duke Show and I Dream of Jeannie.
Mr. Sheldon received the Academy Award for The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer, the Writers' Guild Award for Easter Parade and Annie Get Your Gun, and the Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Redhead. He was an active member of the Writers' Guild Association, Directors' Guild Association, and American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
Beginning in the late 1960s, Sidney Sheldon turned from writing and producing television series and plays to writing novels. His first novel, The Naked Face, was published in 1970 by Morrow. Subsequent novels include The Other Side of Midnight (Morrow, 1974), A Stranger in the Mirror (Morrow, 1976), Bloodline (Morrow, 1977), Rage of Angels (Morrow, 1980), and Master of the Game (Morrow, 1982). The Other Side of Midnight and Bloodline were made into films and Master of the Game was a television mini-series.
