2005 Award Recipient

The Writers Guild of America, west has named legendary comedy writer/director Hal Kanter as this year's recipient of the Morgan Cox Award to be presented at the Guild's second-annual Honorary Service Award Luncheon on Tuesday, November 16, 2004, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

"Embodying the values of our members, Hal has dedicated much of his professional life to the WGAw, giving of himself throughout his many years of service above and beyond the call of duty," said WGAw president Daniel Petrie Jr. "He combines his dedication to improve the conditions and industry profile of writers with his legendary, incomparable wit -- and puts both at the service of his fellow writers; I can think of few people so deserving of this coveted award."

A WGAw member since 1950 and former board member, Kanter continues to serve as a trustee of the Writers Guild Foundation, having been on the Foundation's board since 1979. Perhaps one of Kanter's most indelible contributions to the Guild has taken place outside the boardroom: contributing a wealth of material for many annual Writers Guild Awards shows, adding his signature comic sensibility as writer, host, presenter, and featured entertainer over the years. Known for his razor-sharp wit, Kanter has been a fixture at many industry events and tributes, serving as master of ceremonies for countless galas. For his community service, Kanter received the WGAw's Valentine Davies Award in 1983. Kanter's tireless service to the WGAw includes participation on many departmental committees, including: Writers Guild Awards Show (1981-84, 1989, 1992), Paul Selvin Award (1996-97) and Television Laurel Award (1996-2000) selection, National TV (1952-53), Negotiating, Screen (1966), Nominating (1987), Pay TV (1957-60), Strike Fund (1987-88), and Waiver (1987-1995).

In addition to his longtime guild participation, veteran comedy writer/director/producer Kanter has cemented a prolific film and television career. While Kanter first built a name for himself as a gag writer for top radio and nightclub comedians, contributing material to radio shows like The Danny Kaye Show and The Bing Crosby Show, as well as broadcasting shows for Armed Forces Radio Service, Kanter flourished in TV's Golden Age, making his mark co-creating and writing the innovative The Ed Wynn Show in 1950. Making the leap to film the following year, Kanter co-wrote Two Tickets to Broadway for RKO. Landing a contract with Paramount Pictures soon after, Kanter's assignments included several Bob Hope hit comedies, including My Favorite Spy (1951) and Casanova's Big Night (1953), as well as co-writing The Road to Bali (1952) for Hope and Bing Crosby. During this period, Kanter also wrote several screenplays that helped launch another comedy team, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, including Money from Home (1953) and Artists and Models (1955). Flexing his dramatic skills, Kanter also adapted the 1954 screen version of Tennessee William's The Rose Tattoo. In 1955, Kanter co-wrote and made his TV directorial debut with the award-winning The George Gobel Show (for which Kanter shared a Best Written Comedy Material Emmy in 1955). The following year, Kanter continued his comedy partnership by making his film directorial debut with I Married A Woman, starring Gobel. Kanter also directed pop icon Elvis Presley in his hit movie Loving You (1957), as well as Rowan & Martin western spoof Once Upon A Horse (1957). Over the next decade, Kanter wrote or co-wrote numerous screenplays, including Mardi Gras (1958), Let's Make Love (which earned a shared 1960 WGA nomination), Pocketful of Miracles (1961), and Blue Hawaii, which earned a 1962 WGA nomination.

Returning to television in the mid-'60s, Kanter was the creative force behind the groundbreaking 1968 sitcom Julia, the first network series starring an African-American woman (Diahann Carroll) in a lead role, earning him a 1969 co-writing Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. In 1976, Kanter was hired as Bob Hope's head writer — that same year, Kanter was named executive producer of seminal sitcom All in the Family (for which Kanter shared a 1976 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series). Capping a lengthy TV career, Kanter received the WGAw's Paddy Chayefsky Television Laurel Award in 1989. In recent years, Kanter's comedic talents have been put to good use contributing material (some alone and some in collaboration) for 32 Academy Award telecasts, most recently 2003's 75th Academy Awards (which earned him a shared WGA nomination), as well as Emmy Awards for 64th and 63rd Oscar telecasts. Most recently, Kanter published his candid autobiography, So Far, So Funny: My Life in Show Business in 1999.

The Morgan Cox Award is presented to that member or group of members whose vital ideals, continuing efforts, and personal sacrifice best exemplify the ideal of service to the guild. Previous recipients include Fay Kanin, Allen Rivkin, Ann Marcus, George Kirgo, Del Reisman, D.C. Fontana, and last year's recipient, James D. Buchanan.