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IMDbPro

Frederick Knott(1916-2002)

  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Frederick Knott was born on 28 August 1916 in Hankow, China. He was a writer, known for Dial M for Murder (1954), Wait Until Dark (1967) and A Perfect Murder (1998). He was married to Ann Hillary. He died on 17 December 2002 in New York City, New York, USA.
BornAugust 28, 1916
DiedDecember 17, 2002(86)
BornAugust 28, 1916
DiedDecember 17, 2002(86)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
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Known for

Grace Kelly and Anthony Dawson in Dial M for Murder (1954)
Dial M for Murder
8.2
  • Writer
  • 1954
Audrey Hepburn in Wait Until Dark (1967)
Wait Until Dark
7.7
  • Writer
  • 1967
Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen in A Perfect Murder (1998)
A Perfect Murder
6.6
  • Writer
  • 1998
Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
77 Sunset Strip
7.7
TV Series
  • Writer

Credits

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IMDbPro

Writer

  • Andrew McCarthy and Helen Slater in Nowhere in Sight (2001)
    Nowhere in Sight
    5.1
    • play "Wait Until Dark" (uncredited)
    • 2001
  • Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen in A Perfect Murder (1998)
    A Perfect Murder
    6.6
    • play "Dial M for Murder"
    • 1998
  • Wait Until Dark (1982)
    Wait Until Dark
    7.1
    TV Movie
    • play
    • 1982
  • Tony Wendice's Mistake (1981)
    Tony Wendice's Mistake
    6.7
    TV Movie
    • play "Dial M for Murder"
    • 1981
  • Angie Dickinson and Christopher Plummer in Dial 'M' for Murder (1981)
    Dial 'M' for Murder
    6.4
    TV Movie
    • play
    • 1981
  • Laurence Harvey and Hugh O'Brian in Dial M for Murder (1967)
    Dial M for Murder
    7.9
    TV Movie
    • play
    • screenplay
    • 1967
  • Audrey Hepburn in Wait Until Dark (1967)
    Wait Until Dark
    7.7
    • based on the play by
    • 1967
  • The Honey Pot (1967)
    The Honey Pot
    6.7
    • play
    • 1967
  • Alan Edwards in Write Me a Murder (1965)
    Write Me a Murder
    TV Movie
    • play
    • 1965
  • Thursday Theatre
    6.4
    TV Series
    • play
    • writer
    • 1964
  • Bob Dylan, David Warner, Ursula Howells, Reg Lye, James Mellor, and Maureen Pryor in The Madhouse on Castle Street (1963)
    BBC Sunday-Night Play
    8.5
    TV Series
    • play
    • 1962
  • Dial M for Murder
    TV Movie
    • play
    • 1962
  • Gran teatro
    4.4
    TV Series
    • Writer
    • 1961
  • Birgit Sadolin and Ole Wisborg in Drej M for mord (1961)
    Drej M for mord
    TV Movie
    • Writer
    • 1961
  • U spreekt met uw moordenaar
    TV Movie
    • play
    • 1961

Personal details

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  • Alternative name
    • adapted from his play
  • Born
    • August 28, 1916
    • Hankow, China
  • Died
    • December 17, 2002
    • New York City, New York, USA(natural causes)
  • Spouse
    • Ann HillaryNovember 10, 1953 - December 17, 2002 (his death, 1 child)
  • Other works
    Stage Play: Dial "M" for Murder. Thriller. Written by Frederick Knott. Scenic Design by Peter Larkin. Lighting Design by Peter Larkin. Directed by Reginald Denham. Plymouth Theatre (moved to The Booth Theatre from 11 Jan 1954- close): 29 Oct 1952- 27 Feb 1954 (552 performances). Cast: Maurice Evans (as "Tony Wendice"), Anthony Dawson (as "Captain Lesgate") [only Broadway role], Richard Derr (as "Max Halliday"), Gusti Huber (as "Margot Wendice"), Porter Van Zandt (as "Thompson"), John Williams (as "Inspector Hubbard"). Replacement cast during Plymouth Theatre run: Francis Bethencourt (as "Captain Lesgate"), Bruce Jewell (as "Thompson"), J. Pat O'Malley (as "Inspector Hubbard") [final Broadway role]. Produced by James P. Sherwood. Associate Producer: Emmett Rogers. Note: Filmed by Warner Bros. as Dial M for Murder (1954).
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Frederick Knott was a writer who didn't like to write. He wrote only a handful of stage plays, but two of them - "Dial M For Murder" and "Wait Until Dark" - were so enduringly successful that he lived a very comfortable existence throughout his adult life.

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