Raucher grew up in Brooklyn, New York and was a graduate of Erasmus High and New York University. He began his writing career during The Golden Age of Live Television, penning original one hour dramas for such esteemed shows as “Studio One,” “Goodyear Playhouse,” and “The Alcoa Hour.” At the same time, he was serving as Advertising Copy Director for Walt Disney whose new company, Buena Vista, was expanding from animated films into live action productions. The debut of Disneyland in California and all the excitement that came with it further employed his artistic input. Raucher continued as Creative Director and Board Member of several major New York advertising agencies, finally leaving the ad world behind to focus solely on his own writing. His efforts led to four plays, six novels and seven films. “Summer of '42” was both an internationally best-selling novel and a box office success. It earned him an Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Screenplay as well as a similar nomination from The Writers Guild of America.
Previously, Raucher's cult film, “Hieronymus Merkin,” won the Best Original Screenplay award from The Writers Guild of Great Britain. This was his second project with Anthony Newley who had co-starred with Sandy Dennis in Raucher's "Sweet November." His groundbreaking, racially-charged movie “Watermelon Man” inspired several other films to explore similar territory. Raucher's original screenplay and novel based on the hit song "Ode to Billy Joe" earned further acclaim.
Raucher's other books include A Glimpse of Tiger, There Should Have Been Castles, and Maynard's House. In recent years, the re-issue of his novels along with new foreign editions and audiobooks reignited interest in his work and garnered fresh praise from both industry professionals such as Quentin Tarantino and fans from around the world. Despite his successes on both the big and small screen as well as the stage, Raucher always felt most at home with novels—the one medium in which no one could change as much as a comma without his approval—a condition to which every writer aspires but very few achieve.
Raucher’s beloved wife of over forty-two years Mary Kathryn, a student of the School of American Ballet with George Balanchine and also a dancer on Broadway, predeceased him in 2002. Together, they raised their family in Greenwich Connecticut where Herman was a longtime resident. He relocated to Stamford Connecticut in his later years.
Raucher is survived by his daughters Jacqueline Raucher-Salkin (William Salkin) of Old Greenwich, Connecticut and Jenny Raucher of New York City along with his granddaughters Samantha Salkin and Jamie Salkin. The Family would like to acknowledge wonderful aide, Iggy Solomon, who developed a heartfelt relationship with Herman over many years and was with him until the very end of his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Herman Raucher’s name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation at give.michaeljfox.org.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.11.1