Anecdotes

He was quoted as saying, "When I die, I'm going to have written on my tombstone: 'Finally, a plot.'".

He and Laura Ziskin married in 2010 after living together for over 25 years.

Although he is an award-winning screenwriter, he is known to take his time writing his scripts. He took over a year to write the screenplay to Des gens comme les autres (1980).

Briefly acted at The Circle Theatre in Los Angeles, subsequently becoming an ad salesman for Variety.

Ex-brother-in-law of Geraldine Brooks and Norma Crane.

He has two daughters from his first marriage: Amanda and Jennifer.

Attended Upper Darby High School (outside Philadelphia) but dropped out during World War II to join the U.S. Navy. After the war, Sargent moved to Los Angeles and waited tables, delivered for a clothing company and drove props around for CBS.

Younger brother of Herbert Sargent.

Son of Esther (Kadansky) and Isaac Supowitz. His grandparents were all Russian Jewish immigrants.