William Peter McGivern (December 6, 1918 – November 18, 1982) was an American novelist and television scriptwriter. He published more than 20 novels, mostly mysteries and crime thrillers, some under the pseudonym Bill Peters. His novels were adapted for a number of films, including '' Odds Against Tomorrow'' (1959), a noir tale of three losers, starring Harry Belafonte; '' The Big Heat'' (1953), starring Glenn Ford as a cop who will do anything to get his man; ''

Shield for Murder ''Shield for Murder'' is a 1954 American film noir crime film co-directed by and starring Edmond O'Brien as a police detective who has become malevolent. It was based on the novel of the same name by William P. McGivern. Plot Lieutenant Barney No ...

'', about an honest cop going bad; and '' Rogue Cop'' (1954), a film noir directed by Roy Rowland, about a crooked cop trying to redeem himself. ''The Big Heat'' received an

Edgar Award The Edgar Allan Poe Awards, popularly called the Edgars, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America, based in New York City. Named after American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849), a pioneer in the genre, the awards honor the bes ...

in 1954 as Best Motion Picture, which McGivern shared as author of the original novel. He also published more than 100 science-fiction stories during the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles, where he wrote for television and film.

Biography

Born in Chicago to an Irish-American family, McGivern grew up in Mobile, Alabama. After serving in the Army in World War II as a sergeant where he was awarded the Soldier's Medal and studying at the University of Birmingham in England, McGivern returned to the U.S. He worked for two years as a police reporter for the ''

Philadelphia Bulletin The ''Philadelphia Bulletin'' was a daily evening newspaper published from 1847 to 1982 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the largest circulation newspaper in Philadelphia for 76 years and was once the largest evening newspaper in the United ...

'' and later as a writer for ''The Evening Bulletin''. In 1947, he married Maureen Daly, a journalist and author of the bestseller ''

Seventeenth Summer ''Seventeenth Summer'' is a young adult novel written by Maureen Daly and published in 1942. It is considered Daly's debut novel, and is considered one of the earliest entries of young adult fiction. Plot summary ''Seventeenth Summer'' is a book ...

'' (1942). William and Maureen McGivern co-wrote ''Mention My Name in Mombasa: the Unscheduled Adventures of an American Family Abroad'', which covered their times and adventures living overseas, including Ireland, Kenya, and Torremolinos, Spain. His first novel was published in 1948. In the early 1960s, McGivern moved to Los Angeles to write for film and television. His credits include the TV series '' Ben Casey'', ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the stre ...

'', and '' Kojak''; the William Castle film '' I Saw What You Did'' (1965); the Matt Helm film '' The Wrecking Crew'' (1968); and the

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

film '' Brannigan'' (1975).

Personal life and death

McGivern died in Palm Desert, California in 1982, aged 63. The couple had two children, Megan McGivern Shaw (1948–1983) and Patrick McGivern (1952–2012).

Novels

*''But Death Runs Faster'' (1948) aka ''The Whispering Corpse'' *''Heaven Ran Last'' (1949) *''Very Cold for May'' (1950) *''Shield for Murder'' (1951) ( filmed in 1954) *''Blondes Die Young'' (1952) (as by Bill Peters) *''The Crooked Frame'' (1952) *''The Big Heat'' (1953) ( filmed in 1953) *''Margin of Terror'' (1953) *''Rogue Cop'' (1954) ( filmed in 1954) *''The Darkest Hour'' (1955) aka ''Waterfront Cop'' (filmed in 1955 as '' Hell on Frisco Bay'') *''The Seven File'' (1956) aka ''Chicago-7'' *''Night Extra'' (1957) *''Odds Against Tomorrow'' (1957) ( filmed in 1959) *''Mention My Name in Mombasa'' (1958) (with Maureen McGivern) *''Savage Streets'' (1959) *''Seven Lies South'' (1960) *''The Road to the Snail'' (1961) *''A Pride of Place'' (1962) *''A Choice of Assassins'' (1963) (filmed as ''Un choix d'assassins''in 1967) *''The Caper of the Golden Bulls'' (1966) ( filmed in 1967) *''Lie Down, I Want to Talk to You'' (1967) *''Caprifoil'' (1972) *''Reprisal'' (1973) *''Night of the Juggler'' (1975) ( filmed in 1980) *''Soldiers of '44'' (1979) *''The Seeing'' (1980) (with Maureen McGivern) *''Summit'' (1982) *''War Games'' (1984) *''A Matter of Honor'' (1984) (with Maureen McGivern)

Short stories

*"Killer on the Turnpike" (1961) (filmed as ''

Nightmare in Chicago ''Nightmare in Chicago'' is a 1964 suspense thriller crime television film produced and directed by Robert Altman, based on the novel ''Death on the Turnpike'' by William P. McGivern. It was originally filmed as an episode of the NBC series ''Kra ...

'') *"Send Along a Wreath" (2019)

References

* "Unnatural Law: William McGivern's Rogue Cops", James Rodgers, Matthew O'Brien (eds), ''After the Flood: Irish America 1945-1960''. Dublin Irish Academic Press (2009)

Notes

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:McGivern, William P. 1918 births 1982 deaths American people of Irish descent American mystery writers Edgar Award winners 20th-century American novelists American male novelists American television writers American male television writers Writers from Los Angeles Writers from Mobile, Alabama Alumni of the University of Birmingham American male screenwriters 20th-century American male writers Novelists from Alabama Screenwriters from California Screenwriters from Alabama 20th-century American screenwriters United States Army personnel of World War II