Norman Wexler was born in New Bedford Mass and attended Harvard University. In addition to his acclaim as the writer of Saturday Night Fever, he also suffered from manic depression, and in 1972 was arrested by the FBI for saying he was planning to shoot then-president Nixon.
Wexler was the mysterious "Mr. X" referred to in Bob Zmuda's biography of Andy Kaufman, "Andy Kaufman Revealed".
2
Andy Kaufman's character of "Tony Clifton" was partially based on Norman Wexler, from Kaufman hearing stories of Wexler's eccentric behavior from Bob Zmuda.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Raw Deal
1986
screenplay
Staying Alive
1983
written by
Saturday Night Fever
1977
screenplay
Drum
1976
screenplay
Mandingo
1975
screenplay
Serpico
1973
screenplay
Joe
1970
written by
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Edición Especial Coleccionista
2013
TV Series in memory of - 1 episode
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
2017
Documentary post-production
Welcome to the Basement
2013
TV Series
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1974
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium
Serpico (1973)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1978
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
1974
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Serpico (1973)
1974
Edgar
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Best Motion Picture
Serpico (1973)
1971
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced
$14 Million
