Veteran screenwriter / producer Ernest Lehman passed away on July 2nd after a lengthy illness. Mr. Lehman was nominated for a half-dozen Oscars over the course of his illustrious career, but the only one he ever brought home was a 2001 Honorary Oscar "in appreciation of a body of varied and enduring work."

Probably best known for his screenplays "North By Northwest," "Sabrina," "The Sound of Music," and "West Side Story," Mr. Lehman's 30-year career also yielded films like "Hello, Dolly!," "Sweet Smell of Success," "Black Sunday," and "Portnoy's Complaint" (a film which marked his only trip to the director's chair.)

Writer's Guild President Daniel Petrie Jr. said of Ernest Lehman: "A creative giant among writers and within the industry, Ernest possessed one of the most distinctive voices of the last half-century."

Mr. Lehman is survived by three sons and two grandchildren. He was 89 years old.