Robert Riskin (March 30, 1897 – September 20, 1955) was an American screenwriter and playwright, best known for his collaborations with director-producer Frank Capra. Riskin’s older brother, Everett born in 1895, went on to a career as Hollywood film producer, from 1934-1952, serving as production head for many of Columbia Pictures noteworthy films : The Awful Truth (1937), Holiday, (1938), Here Comes Mr. Jordan, (1941), The Thin Man Goes Home, (1945).
Joined Columbia under contract as screenwriter in 1931, remaining until 1941. He eventually parted company with director Frank Capra, whom he resented for taking the bulk of the credit for his many successful contributions. However, Riskin's solo career never quite reached the same heights and his only directing effort, a 1937 musical starring Grace Moore, flopped at the box office.
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Wrote plays while still at college and had his first play produced two years later, in 1914.
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Best known for his visions of an idealised America as represented in his collaborations with director Frank Capra.
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Founded his own production company, Equitable Pictures, in conjunction with his brother Everett.
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Father (with Fay Wray of Victoria Riskin (b. 1948), Robert Riskin Jr., Susan Riskin (b. 1938, adopted by Riskin in 1942 after her birth father committed suicide).
During WW2 he worked for the Office of War Information, heading the motion picture division of their overseas branch. He produced propaganda films promoting the American way of life to be shown in theaters liberated from the Nazi's.
$8 Million
