Colin Higgins

Born: 28 July 1941
Where: Noumea, New Coledonia
Died: 5 August 1988

Best remembered for writing the Hal Ashby-directed black comedy, Harold and Maude, it was five years before Higgins enjoyed success again with the original screenplay Silver Streak, a comedy starring Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder and Jill Clayburgh.

For the chance to direct his next screenplay, Foul Play, he sold it to Paramount for a cut rate. The detective comedy starring Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn was a box office hit and consolidated Higgins' reputation.

There was no denying that both scripts owed more than a little to Alfred Hitchcock. He went on to co-script and direct the Dolly Parton vehicles 9 to 5 and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Higgins made occasional acting appearances, as in John Landis' crime comedy Into The Night where he joined a slew of other directors in cameo vignettes, and John Boorman's Hope and Glory.

He completed a number of scripting and directing projects for the small screen, among them, the script for The Devil's Daughter, as well as adapting both Foul Play and 9 to 5 into series.

He co-wrote and co-produced the miniseries Out on a Limb featuring Shirley MacLaine.