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Henry Denker

April 09, 2024

Henry Denker (November 25, 1912 – May 15, 2012) was an American novelist and playwright.

Henry Denker
Born(1912-11-25)November 25, 1912
New York, U.S.
DiedMay 15, 2012(2012-05-15) (aged 99)
Occupation
  • Novelist
  • playwright
NationalityAmerican
Alma materNew York Law School
SpouseEdith Heckman

Biography edit

Denker was born in New York, the son of a fur trader. After initially studying to be a rabbi, he change to the study of law and graduated from New York Law School in 1934. He stopped practicing law but used his legal background for numerous written works.[1]

Denker was admitted to the New York Bar in 1935, at the height of the Depression, and he soon left law practice to earn his living by writing. His legal training was reflected in many of his works. During Denker's brief legal career, he won a Workmen's Compensation case which, according to Denker, for the first time established that a physical trauma can induce a mental disease. In another case, Denker served a summons on heavyweight champion Jack Johnson.

Denker was the originator and writer of what he describes as the "first television series ever produced," False Witness, on NBC-TV in 1939. Despite its success, the series was discontinued when the nascent medium of television was converted into an instruction tool for the mass training of Air Raid Wardens in anticipation of the U.S. entry into World War II.

Denker started writing for radio with three productions on CBS Radio's Columbia Workshop: "Me? I Drive a Hack," starring Richard Widmark, "Emile, the Seal," a fantasy, and "Laughter for the Leader," a political drama in which CBS, without explanation, forbade the character of Hitler to be played with a German accent. During World War II, Denker worked as a writer on the English Desk of the Office of War Information.

In 1945, Denker began his full-time writing career as the writer of the Radio Reader's Digest on CBS. One of his scripts, he says, was the first radio drama about a physical transplant, a corneal transplant of a human eye to restore sight.

In 1947, Denker wrote the first script for the religious radio series The Greatest Story Ever Told, which, in 1949, won a special George Foster Peabody Citation,[2] the Christopher Award, the CCNY Outstanding Program of the Year Award, the Variety Award of the Year 1947, and others. Denker was to write every script in the series, which ran from 1947 to 1957.

Later, on television, Denker wrote, and David Susskind produced, the first dramatic treatment of a heart transplant, "The Choice," which anticipated the challenge of so many patients in need and so few hearts to give. With a cast including Melvyn Douglas, George Grizzard and Frank Langella, the TV drama included film of an actual surgery provided by Dr. Michael E. DeBakey. Denker recalls that CBS allowed only 30 seconds of the surgical film for fear that the audience would shrink from seeing a beating heart in an open chest cavity.

While writing for radio and television, Denker branched out into the theater, which he described as "my first love." Later he began writing novels. Of his 34 published novels, 17—more than any other author's—have been selected and published by Reader's Digest Condensed Books.[citation needed]

Six plays by Denker have been produced on Broadway, two in the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and two in other venues.

Denker was married for 62 years to Edith Heckman,[1] whom he met when he was a patient and she was a nurse in Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Denker died of lung cancer on May 15, 2012.[3]

In popular culture edit

Denker is mentioned in an exchange in Herman Rauche's novel There Should Have Been Castles when Helen McIninny says to writer Ben Webber, "You're no Henry Denker."[4] When Webber professes ignorance of who Denker is, she replies, "Henry Denker is a writer whose pen you will never be able to lift, let alone carry."[4]

Partial bibliography edit

Novels edit

  • I'll Be Right Home, Ma (1949)
  • My Son, the Lawyer (1950)
  • God's Selfless Men (1952)
  • Salome, Princess of Galilee (1953)
  • Time Limit! (1956)
  • That First Easter (1959)
  • Give us Barabbas (1961)
  • The Director (1971)
  • The Kingmaker (1972)
  • A Place for the Mighty (1973)
  • The Physicians (1975)
  • The Experiment (1977)
  • The Starmaker (1977)
  • The Scofield Diagnosis (1977)
  • The Actress (1978)
  • Error of Judgement (1979)
  • Horowitz and Mrs. Washington (1979)
  • The Warfield Syndrome (1982)
  • Outrage (1982) (about vigilantism) [1]
  • Healers (1983)
  • Kincaid (1984)
  • Kate Kincaid (1985)
  • Robert, My Son (1985)
  • Judge Spencer Dissents (1986)
  • The Choice (1987) (heartwarming tale of the battle within the soul of a doctor who has forever neglected his child and how he is affected by her death due to a disease he should have foreseen)
  • The Judgment (1988)
  • The Retreat (1988) (about alcoholism)
  • A Gift of Life (1989) (about a heart transplant)
  • Payment in Full (1991)
  • Doctor on Trial (1992)
  • Mrs. Washington And Horowitz, Too (1993)
  • Labyrinth (1994) (legal thriller about multiple personalities)
  • This Child Is Mine (1995) (battle over custody of a child)
  • To Marcy, with Love (1996)
  • A Place for Kathy (1997) (about a 12-year-old girl whose mother is diagnosed with HIV)
  • Clarence (2001) (told from the point of view of a Golden Retriever)
  • Cla$$ Action (2005) (lawyers about to take over all other industries) [2]

Plays edit

"The Headhunters" 1971

Screenplays edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Schudel, Matt (May 24, 2012). . The Washington Post. D.C., Washington. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  2. ^ . Peabody Awards. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Henry Denker, Author in Many Genres, Dies at 99". New York Times. May 22, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Raucher, Herman (2015). There Should Have Been Castles. Diversion Books. ISBN 9781626818071. Retrieved 18 February 2018.

External links edit


April 09, 2024
henry, denker, november, 1912, 2012, american, novelist, playwright, born, 1912, november, 1912new, york, diedmay, 2012, 2012, aged, occupationnovelist, playwrightnationalityamericanalma, maternew, york, schoolspouseedith, heckmanbiography, editdenker, born, y. Henry Denker November 25 1912 May 15 2012 was an American novelist and playwright Henry DenkerBorn 1912 11 25 November 25 1912New York U S DiedMay 15 2012 2012 05 15 aged 99 OccupationNovelist playwrightNationalityAmericanAlma materNew York Law SchoolSpouseEdith HeckmanBiography editDenker was born in New York the son of a fur trader After initially studying to be a rabbi he change to the study of law and graduated from New York Law School in 1934 He stopped practicing law but used his legal background for numerous written works 1 Denker was admitted to the New York Bar in 1935 at the height of the Depression and he soon left law practice to earn his living by writing His legal training was reflected in many of his works During Denker s brief legal career he won a Workmen s Compensation case which according to Denker for the first time established that a physical trauma can induce a mental disease In another case Denker served a summons on heavyweight champion Jack Johnson Denker was the originator and writer of what he describes as the first television series ever produced False Witness on NBC TV in 1939 Despite its success the series was discontinued when the nascent medium of television was converted into an instruction tool for the mass training of Air Raid Wardens in anticipation of the U S entry into World War II Denker started writing for radio with three productions on CBS Radio s Columbia Workshop Me I Drive a Hack starring Richard Widmark Emile the Seal a fantasy and Laughter for the Leader a political drama in which CBS without explanation forbade the character of Hitler to be played with a German accent During World War II Denker worked as a writer on the English Desk of the Office of War Information In 1945 Denker began his full time writing career as the writer of the Radio Reader s Digest on CBS One of his scripts he says was the first radio drama about a physical transplant a corneal transplant of a human eye to restore sight In 1947 Denker wrote the first script for the religious radio series The Greatest Story Ever Told which in 1949 won a special George Foster Peabody Citation 2 the Christopher Award the CCNY Outstanding Program of the Year Award the Variety Award of the Year 1947 and others Denker was to write every script in the series which ran from 1947 to 1957 Later on television Denker wrote and David Susskind produced the first dramatic treatment of a heart transplant The Choice which anticipated the challenge of so many patients in need and so few hearts to give With a cast including Melvyn Douglas George Grizzard and Frank Langella the TV drama included film of an actual surgery provided by Dr Michael E DeBakey Denker recalls that CBS allowed only 30 seconds of the surgical film for fear that the audience would shrink from seeing a beating heart in an open chest cavity While writing for radio and television Denker branched out into the theater which he described as my first love Later he began writing novels Of his 34 published novels 17 more than any other author s have been selected and published by Reader s Digest Condensed Books citation needed Six plays by Denker have been produced on Broadway two in the Kennedy Center in Washington D C and two in other venues Denker was married for 62 years to Edith Heckman 1 whom he met when he was a patient and she was a nurse in Mt Sinai Hospital in New York City Denker died of lung cancer on May 15 2012 3 In popular culture editDenker is mentioned in an exchange in Herman Rauche s novel There Should Have Been Castles when Helen McIninny says to writer Ben Webber You re no Henry Denker 4 When Webber professes ignorance of who Denker is she replies Henry Denker is a writer whose pen you will never be able to lift let alone carry 4 Partial bibliography editNovels edit I ll Be Right Home Ma 1949 My Son the Lawyer 1950 God s Selfless Men 1952 Salome Princess of Galilee 1953 Time Limit 1956 That First Easter 1959 Give us Barabbas 1961 The Director 1971 The Kingmaker 1972 A Place for the Mighty 1973 The Physicians 1975 The Experiment 1977 The Starmaker 1977 The Scofield Diagnosis 1977 The Actress 1978 Error of Judgement 1979 Horowitz and Mrs Washington 1979 The Warfield Syndrome 1982 Outrage 1982 about vigilantism 1 Healers 1983 Kincaid 1984 Kate Kincaid 1985 Robert My Son 1985 Judge Spencer Dissents 1986 The Choice 1987 heartwarming tale of the battle within the soul of a doctor who has forever neglected his child and how he is affected by her death due to a disease he should have foreseen The Judgment 1988 The Retreat 1988 about alcoholism A Gift of Life 1989 about a heart transplant Payment in Full 1991 Doctor on Trial 1992 Mrs Washington And Horowitz Too 1993 Labyrinth 1994 legal thriller about multiple personalities This Child Is Mine 1995 battle over custody of a child To Marcy with Love 1996 A Place for Kathy 1997 about a 12 year old girl whose mother is diagnosed with HIV Clarence 2001 told from the point of view of a Golden Retriever Cla Action 2005 lawyers about to take over all other industries 2 Plays edit A Case of Libel based on the 1955 Reynolds v Pegler libel case 1963 A Far Country 1961 about Sigmund Freud Horowitz and Mrs Washington 1980 The Second Time Around Something Old Something New 1977 Time Limit written with Ralph Berkey 1956 Venus at Large 1962 What Did We Do Wrong 1967 The Wound Within 1958 The Headhunters 1971 Screenplays edit Time Limit 1957 The Power of the Resurrection 1958 The Hook 1962 Twilight of Honor 1963 courtroom drama Neither Are We Enemies 1970 The Only Way Out Is Dead 1970 Judgement The Court Martial of Lt William Calley courtroom drama Stanley Kramer 1975 A Time for Miracles 1980 about Elizabeth Bayley Seton References edit a b Schudel Matt May 24 2012 Henry Denker prolific playwright and novelist dies at 99 The Washington Post D C Washington Archived from the original on 18 February 2018 Retrieved 18 February 2018 The Greatest Story Ever Told Peabody Awards Archived from the original on 26 August 2017 Retrieved 18 February 2018 Henry Denker Author in Many Genres Dies at 99 New York Times May 22 2012 a b Raucher Herman 2015 There Should Have Been Castles Diversion Books ISBN 9781626818071 Retrieved 18 February 2018 External links editHenry Denker at IMDb Henry Denker at the Internet Broadway Database Denker at doollee com The New York Times Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Denker amp oldid 1167723688, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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