Hunter, Evan

▪ 2006

Salvatore Albert Lombino; Ed McBain; Curt Cannon; Ezra Hannon; John Abbott; Hunt Collins; and Richard Marsten 

      American writer (b. Oct. 15, 1926, New York, N.Y.—d. July 6, 2005, Weston, Conn.), specialized in crime fiction and was best remembered for his series of 87th Precinct novels, which numbered more than 50 and introduced the gritty realism of police procedure to the genre. These books, written under the name Ed McBain, featured professional terminology, fast-paced action, and lively dialogue. The first in the series, Cop Hater (1956; filmed 1958), was followed by Killer's Wedge (1961), Jigsaw (1970), Fuzz (1968; filmed 1972), and Mischief (1993). Hunter was born Salvatore Lombino. Believing that a prejudice existed against writers with Italian names, he formally changed his name to Hunter but also wrote under other names. He penned science fiction and fantasy for juveniles for a number of magazines and produced a stream of best sellers. His stint as a teacher at a vocational school was the inspiration for the blockbuster The Blackboard Jungle (1954; filmed 1955). He also wrote the screenplay for the film based on his book Strangers When We Meet (1958; filmed 1960) and for Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds (1962). Hunter produced a series dealing with family tensions, including Mothers and Daughters (1961), Last Summer (1968; filmed 1969), and Sons (1969). He later started another series titled after children's stories and nursery rhymes—Goldilocks (1977), Three Blind Mice (1990), and Mary, Mary (1992). Other works included Criminal Conversation (1994), Me and Hitch (1997), and Let's Talk (2005), which recounted his bout with throat cancer. In 1986 he received the Grand Master award for lifetime achievement from the Mystery Writers of America, and in 1998 he became the first American to be honoured with a Cartier Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writers' Association.

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▪ American author

original name  Salvatore Albert Lombino , pseudonyms  Ed McBain,  Curt Cannon,  Ezra Hannon,  Hunt Collins , and  Richard Marsten 

born October 15, 1926, New York, New York, U.S.

died July 6, 2005, Weston, Connecticut

      prolific American writer of best-selling fiction, of which more than 50 books are crime stories published under the pseudonym Ed McBain.

      Hunter graduated from Hunter College (1950) and held various short-term jobs, including playing piano in a jazz band and teaching in vocational high schools, while writing his earlier stories. His best-known novel is among his earliest: The Blackboard Jungle (1954), a story of violence in a New York high school that was the basis of a popular film (1955). After Strangers When We Meet (1958; filmed 1960) and A Matter of Conviction (1959; also published as The Young Savages) became best sellers, Hunter wrote the screenplays for both (1960–61), as well as for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1962) and several later films. Hunter wrote several novels on the theme of family tensions between generations, including Mothers and Daughters (1961), Last Summer (1968; filmed 1969), Sons (1969), and Streets of Gold (1974).

      Hunter was most prolific as a crime novelist. Nearly all of his McBain books are novels of police procedure set in the 87th Precinct of a city much like New York. They include Cop Hater (1956; filmed 1958), Fuzz (1968; filmed 1972), Widows (1991), and Mischief (1993). His 50th novel in the 87th Precinct series, The Last Dance, was published in 1999.

      Hunter also wrote children's stories and stage plays. His later works include Criminal Conversation (1994), Privileged Conversation (1996), and Me and Hitch (1997). The 2001 crime drama Candyland was credited to both Hunter and McBain.

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