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BONO SUBMITS THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD IN MEMORY OF SIDNEY SHELDON
Washington, DC,
Feb 16, 2007 -
In response to the recent tragic loss of one of America's greatest literary artists, Sidney Sheldon, Congresswoman Mary Bono (CA-45) today submitted the following statement to be included in the Congressional Record:
Statement for the Congressional Record Submitted by Congresswoman Mary Bono
February 16, 2007
Madame Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay special tribute to a great American playwright, television visionary and literary artist whose stories and characters have entertained and impacted the lives of generations of Americans, Mr. Sidney Sheldon.
For more than 20 years Sidney Sheldon was a prominent and respected force in television who created such popular programs as I Dream of Jeannie (1965-70), Hart to Hart (1979-1984), and The Patty Duke Show (1965-70). These sitcoms helped propel the careers of some of our most beloved actors on stage and screen including Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, Stephanie Powers, Robert Wagner, and Patty Duke.
As a legendary writer, Sidney Sheldon won numerous awards that spanned three careers—a Broadway playwright, a Hollywood TV and movie screenwriter, and a best-selling novelist.
At the age of 50, Sidney Sheldon focused on creating best-selling novels that included Master of the Game (1982), The Other Side of Midnight (1973) and Rage of Angels (1980). Although those were his most famous literary works, Sidney Sheldon also published a total of 18 novels.
When expressing his passion for composing novels, Sidney Sheldon stated, "I love writing books. Movies are a collaborative medium, and everyone is second-guessing you. When you do a novel you're on your own. It's a freedom that doesn't exist in any other medium."
Sidney Sheldon was a proud American Veteran, who upon his return from service during World War II, focused his attention on writing plays for Broadway. In recognizing Sheldon's unquestionable talent as a playwright, Sidney Sheldon won a Tony award for his work on the play Redhead in 1959.
Over the decades, Sheldon accrued numerous awards and recognition for his commitment to television, film, and stage, including winning an Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay (1947) for The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer; and an Emmy Award for his work on I Dream of Jeannie, which aired on NBC.
Although Sidney Sheldon was born in Chicago, Illinois, he remained a life-long resident of the Coachella Valley. I was deeply fortunate to call the legendary Sidney Sheldon a friend.
I extend my deepest sympathy to the entire Sheldon family for their loss; a loss we all share. The passionate works of Sidney Sheldon that defined a generation will continue to live in the hearts of countless future generations of Americans. We celebrate his memory and our nation is better for his service.
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