Julius J. Epstein

Julius J. Epstein, born on August 22, 1909, was a distinguished American screenwriter whose legacy is forever intertwined with the classic film Casablanca, released in 1942. Collaborating with his identical twin brother, Philip, and Howard E. Koch, Epstein crafted a screenplay that not only captivated audiences but also earned them an Academy Award. The film was adapted from an unpublished play, Everybody Comes to Rick's, penned by Murray Bennett and Joan Alison.

Throughout his extensive career, Epstein faced personal tragedy with the passing of his twin brother in 1952, a loss that profoundly affected him. Despite this, he continued to contribute to the film industry, garnering two additional Oscar nominations. His impressive body of work includes notable films such as Four Daughters, which earned him his first Oscar nomination in nineteen thirty-eight, The Bride Came C.O.D., The Man Who Came to Dinner, and many others, culminating in a career achievement award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association in nineteen ninety-eight.

While Epstein's screenwriting flourished, his ventures into Broadway theatre were less successful. He adapted his play Front Porch in Flatbush into Saturday Night, which was intended to be the first professional musical by Stephen Sondheim. Unfortunately, the production was shelved following the death of its lead producer. His later play, But, Seriously, featuring Richard Dreyfuss and Tom Poston, marked a significant moment in theatre history, being the last staged at Henry Miller's Theatre for over thirty years, opening on February twenty-seven, nineteen sixty-nine, but closing after just four performances.