Paul King on AllMovie

Screenwriter and producer Paul King worked in television and feature films. In 1959 he received an Oscar nomination for co-writing (with Joseph J. Stone) the original story for Operation Petticoat. A native of Los Angeles, King obtained a bachelor's degree from Loyola University and a master's in English from the University of Southern California in 1950. He joined the Navy for a few years and after his discharge, went to Hollywood to become a writer. Other film scripts he has written include Wild Heritage (1958). King was more prolific as a television writer specializing in Westerns. Shows featuring his work include Bat Masterson, Rawhide, Wagon Train, and Bonanza. In the mid-'60s, King became the vice president of program production at CBS television and remained with the network through 1975. In 1980, he teamed with NBC to become their vice president of prime time series until his retirement in 1986. King died of cancer on July 10, 1996, at age 69.