Sandor Stern
Encyclopedia
Born in the northern Canadian town of Timmins
, Ontario
; raised in the small town of Prescott, Ontario
, on the St. Lawrence River; Sandor Stern was drawn to short story writing while in high school and began writing stage plays while attending the University of Toronto
. Though he planned to obtain a degree in teaching, a physician-uncle suggested that medicine might offer more involving experiences for an aspiring writer. Heeding that advice, Stern enrolled in Medical School at the University of Toronto
. During his schooling, he continued to write, switching to TV scripts, and selling his first script to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
prior to his graduation in 1961.
, Stern continued to write; adding songwriting and variety sketch writing to his credits. Over the next five years, he wrote numerous shows for the CBC until demand for his work allowed him to give up the practice of medicine and devote full time to writing. He wrote the CTV
network's first drama, _Rumble of Silence (1968) (TV)_ , and created the CBC network's medical series, "Corwin" (1969). Deciding to try his luck in Hollywood, Stern arrived in LA and immediately landed an assignment to write an episode of NBC's, "The Bold Ones
". He quickly moved on to other episodic dramas, Ironside
(1969), and onto producing with "The Mod Squad
" (1971) and "Doc Elliot" (1973). His TV movie producing began in 1974 with The Strange and Deadly Occurrence (1974) (TV). In 1979 The Seeding of Sarah Burns (1979) (TV) was his first directing assignment. He created the short-lived 1983 CBS TV Series Cutter to Houston
. Since then he has written and/or directed more than 35 movies, including the screenplays for three feature films; The Amityville Horror (1979)
{1}, Fast Break (1979)
{2} (winner of the 1979 NAACP Image Award
for best screenplay) and Pin... (1988) (which he also directed). Stern is married to Kandy Stern, an artist, production designer and producer, with whom he co-wrote and co-produced the NBC movie, Deception: A Mother's Secret (1991) (TV) and co-produced the USA Cable movie, Jericho Fever (1993) (TV). His recent credits include co-writing the Lifetime Cable Movie "You Belong To Me (2007) and his first novel, The Life And Adventures Of Ralph, The Cat was published in 2008. His short story, "My Grandfather Clock" was published in the anthology, "Canadian Voices" in 2009. His anthology of short stories, "The Karma Chronicles" was published in 2010. Three of his four sons came together to form the wildly successful Los Angeles punk band Youth Brigade
, and its almost 30-year-old record label Better Youth Organization, which shaped and defied the standards of hardcore punk music throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
; raised in the small town of Prescott, Ontario
Prescott, Ontario
Prescott is a town of approximately 4,180 people on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada. The Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge, 5 km east of Prescott in Johnstown, connects it with Ogdensburg, New York...
, on the St. Lawrence River; Sandor Stern was drawn to short story writing while in high school and began writing stage plays while attending the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. Though he planned to obtain a degree in teaching, a physician-uncle suggested that medicine might offer more involving experiences for an aspiring writer. Heeding that advice, Stern enrolled in Medical School at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. During his schooling, he continued to write, switching to TV scripts, and selling his first script to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
prior to his graduation in 1961.
Career
Setting up a private practice in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Stern continued to write; adding songwriting and variety sketch writing to his credits. Over the next five years, he wrote numerous shows for the CBC until demand for his work allowed him to give up the practice of medicine and devote full time to writing. He wrote the CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
network's first drama, _Rumble of Silence (1968) (TV)_ , and created the CBC network's medical series, "Corwin" (1969). Deciding to try his luck in Hollywood, Stern arrived in LA and immediately landed an assignment to write an episode of NBC's, "The Bold Ones
The Bold Ones
The Bold Ones is the umbrella title for several television series. It was produced by Universal Television and broadcast on NBC from 1969 to 1973...
". He quickly moved on to other episodic dramas, Ironside
Ironside (TV series)
Ironside is a Universal television series which ran on NBC from September 14, 1967 to January 16, 1975. The show starred Raymond Burr as the wheelchair-using Chief of Detectives, Robert T. Ironside. The character's debut was in a TV-movie on March 28, 1967. The original title of the show in the...
(1969), and onto producing with "The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad is a television series that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968, until August 23, 1973. This series starred Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III, and Tige Andrews...
" (1971) and "Doc Elliot" (1973). His TV movie producing began in 1974 with The Strange and Deadly Occurrence (1974) (TV). In 1979 The Seeding of Sarah Burns (1979) (TV) was his first directing assignment. He created the short-lived 1983 CBS TV Series Cutter to Houston
Cutter to Houston
Cutter to Houston is an American medical drama that aired on CBS from October 1 to December 31, 1983. The series was created by Sandor Stern.-Synopsis:...
. Since then he has written and/or directed more than 35 movies, including the screenplays for three feature films; The Amityville Horror (1979)
The Amityville Horror (1979 film)
The Amityville Horror is a 1979 American horror film based on the bestselling 1977 novel of the same name by Jay Anson. It is the first movie in the Amityville Horror franchise....
{1}, Fast Break (1979)
Fast Break (film)
Fast Break is a 1979 American comedy film. Fast Break stars Gabe Kaplan as David Greene, Harold Sylvester as D.C. and Bernard King as Hustler. It was directed by Jack Smight and produced by Stephen Friedman...
{2} (winner of the 1979 NAACP Image Award
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
for best screenplay) and Pin... (1988) (which he also directed). Stern is married to Kandy Stern, an artist, production designer and producer, with whom he co-wrote and co-produced the NBC movie, Deception: A Mother's Secret (1991) (TV) and co-produced the USA Cable movie, Jericho Fever (1993) (TV). His recent credits include co-writing the Lifetime Cable Movie "You Belong To Me (2007) and his first novel, The Life And Adventures Of Ralph, The Cat was published in 2008. His short story, "My Grandfather Clock" was published in the anthology, "Canadian Voices" in 2009. His anthology of short stories, "The Karma Chronicles" was published in 2010. Three of his four sons came together to form the wildly successful Los Angeles punk band Youth Brigade
Youth Brigade (band)
Youth Brigade is a Southern California punk music trio formed in 1980 by brothers Mark Stern, Adam Stern, and Shawn Stern. The band subsequently founded BYO , which served both as their record label and as a statement of their attitude toward the young people involved in the punk subculture, which...
, and its almost 30-year-old record label Better Youth Organization, which shaped and defied the standards of hardcore punk music throughout the 1980s and 1990s.