Dennis Shryack
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Dennis Shryack (August 25, 1936 – September 14, 2016) was an American screenwriter. Born and raised in
Duluth, Minnesota Duluth ( ) is a Port, port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of St. Louis County, Minnesota, St. Louis County. Located on Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, the city is a hub for cargo shipping. The population ...
, Shryack began his career as a singer in the Escorts quartet, which toured as an opening act for well-known artists such as
Sammy Davis Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, actor, comedian, dancer, and musician. At age two, Davis began his career in Vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the Will Mastin Trio, which t ...
and
Sophie Tucker Sophie Tucker (born Sofia Kalish; January 13, 1886 – February 9, 1966) was a Russian-born American singer, comedian, actress, and radio personality. Known for her powerful delivery of comical and risqué songs, she was one of the most popula ...
. Following his time with the Escorts, Shryack was hired as a mailroom worker at
Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...
. Shryack's first produced screenplay was for the 1969 Western comedy film, ''
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys ''The Good Guys and the Bad Guys'' is a 1969 American comedy Western film directed by Burt Kennedy. It stars Robert Mitchum and George Kennedy. Plot Jim Flagg is the marshal in the town of Progress. He hears arch-rival Big John McKay is headed ...
'', which he co-wrote and co-produced with Ronald M. Cohen. His second film, the 1977 thriller '' The Car'', starred
James Brolin Craig Kenneth Bruderlin (born July 18, 1940), known professionally as James Brolin, is an American actor. Brolin has won two Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globes and an Emmy Awards, Emmy. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August ...
and Kathleen Lloyd. Shryack wrote for a variety of stars, such as
Chuck Norris Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist and actor. Born in Oklahoma, Norris first gained fame when he won the amateur Middleweight Karate champion title in 1968, which he held for six consecutive years. H ...
(two films) and
Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western (genre), Western TV series ''Rawhide (TV series), Rawhide'', Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the "Ma ...
(two films), most notably co-writing the screenplay for ''
Pale Rider ''Pale Rider'' is a 1985 American Western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the lead role. The title is a reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as the pale horse's ghost rider (Eastwood) represents D ...
'' in 1985, directed by Clint Eastwood, which became one of the highest grossing
Western films The Western is a film genre defined by the American Film Institute as films which are "set in the American West that mbodythe spirit, the struggle, and the demise of the Frontier Thesis, new frontier." Generally set in the American frontier b ...
of the 1980s, taking in the $41 million (the equivalent of nearly $92 million in 2016). Shryack often collaborated on screenplays with other writers, including penning six films with Michael Butler, as well as partnerships with
Michael Blodgett Michael Blodgett (September 26, 1939 – November 14, 2007) was an American actor, novelist, and screenwriter. Of his many film and television appearances he is best known for his performance as gigolo Lance Rocke in Russ Meyer's 1970 cult cl ...
on ''Turner & Hooch'' and ''
Run Run(s) or RUN may refer to: Places * Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia * Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant People * Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
'' in 1991. Some of Shryack's other credits include '' Flashpoint'' (1984), which starred
Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a pioneering figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a m ...
,
Treat Williams Richard Treat Williams Jr. (December 1, 1951 – June 12, 2025) was an American actor, whose career on stage and in film and television spanned five decades. He received many accolades for his work, including nominations for three Golden Globe ...
, and
Rip Torn Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn Jr. (February 6, 1931 – July 9, 2019) was an American actor whose career spanned roughly 60 years. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing Marsh Turner in '' Cross Creek'' (1983). Tor ...
; 1987's '' Rent-a-Cop'' with
Michael Blodgett Michael Blodgett (September 26, 1939 – November 14, 2007) was an American actor, novelist, and screenwriter. Of his many film and television appearances he is best known for his performance as gigolo Lance Rocke in Russ Meyer's 1970 cult cl ...
, starring
Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor most famous during the 1970s and 1980s. He became well known in television series such as ''Gunsmoke'' (1962–1965), '' Hawk'' (1966) and '' Dan Augus ...
and
Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, ...
; and ''
Cadence In Classical music, Western musical theory, a cadence () is the end of a Phrase (music), phrase in which the melody or harmony creates a sense of full or partial resolution (music), resolution, especially in music of the 16th century onwards.Don ...
'' (1990), which starred
Charlie Sheen Carlos Irwin Estévez (born September 3, 1965), known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor. He is known as a leading man in film and television. Sheen has received numerous accolades including a Golden Globe Award as well as ...
and was directed by
Martin Sheen Ramón Gerard Antonio Estévez (born August 3, 1940), known professionally as Martin Sheen, is an American actor. His work spans over six decades of television and film, and his accolades include three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and ...
. Shryack successfully negotiated for $1 million for the script he co-wrote for ''
Turner & Hooch ''Turner & Hooch'' is a 1989 American buddy cop comedy film starring Tom Hanks and Beasley the Dog (among others) as the eponymous characters respectively. The film also co-stars Mare Winningham, Craig T. Nelson and Reginald VelJohnson. It w ...
'' (1989), which was the highest price ever paid for a screenplay by
Touchstone Pictures Touchstone Pictures was an American film distribution label of Walt Disney Studios, founded and owned by The Walt Disney Company. Feature films released under the Touchstone label were produced and financed by Walt Disney Studios, and featured ...
at the time. He later became a
literary agent A literary agent is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers, film producers, and film studios, and assists in sale and deal negotiation. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwr ...
and returned to his hometown of Duluth. Shryack died from
congestive heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome caused by an impairment in the heart's ability to fill with and pump blood. Although symptoms vary based on which side of the heart is affected, HF typically pr ...
in Duluth on September 14, 2016, at the age of 80. He was survived by his wife, Kathy, and children, daughter, Jennifer, and son, Chris.


Filmography

* ''
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys ''The Good Guys and the Bad Guys'' is a 1969 American comedy Western film directed by Burt Kennedy. It stars Robert Mitchum and George Kennedy. Plot Jim Flagg is the marshal in the town of Progress. He hears arch-rival Big John McKay is headed ...
'' (1969, co-written and co-produced with Ronald M. Cohen) * '' The Car'' (1977, co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Butler and Lane Slate and story with Butler) * '' The Gauntlet'' (1977, co-written with Michael Butler) * '' Murder by Phone'' (1982, co-screenplay with Michael Butler and
John Kent Harrison John Kent Harrison is a Canadian film and television director and writer. Early life Harrison was born in London, Ontario, in 1947 and attended the private school Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario. After graduating in 1964, he attended Col ...
, co-story with George Armondo, James Whiton, Michael Butler) * '' Flashpoint'' (1984, co-written with Michael Butler) * ''
Code of Silence A code of silence is a condition in effect when a person opts to withhold what is believed to be vital or important information voluntarily or involuntarily. The code of silence is usually followed because of threat of force or danger to onese ...
'' (1985, co-written with Michael Butler and Mike Gray, co-story with Michael Butler) * ''
Pale Rider ''Pale Rider'' is a 1985 American Western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the lead role. The title is a reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as the pale horse's ghost rider (Eastwood) represents D ...
'' (1985, co-written with Michael Butler) * '' Rent-a-Cop'' (1987, co-written with
Michael Blodgett Michael Blodgett (September 26, 1939 – November 14, 2007) was an American actor, novelist, and screenwriter. Of his many film and television appearances he is best known for his performance as gigolo Lance Rocke in Russ Meyer's 1970 cult cl ...
) * ''
Hero and the Terror ''Hero and the Terror'' is a 1988 American action film starring martial arts star Chuck Norris, directed by William Tannen. Produced by Menahem Golan, written by Michael Blodgett, and was distributed by Cannon Films. The film stars Norris as Dann ...
'' (1988, co-written with Michael Blodgett) * ''
Turner & Hooch ''Turner & Hooch'' is a 1989 American buddy cop comedy film starring Tom Hanks and Beasley the Dog (among others) as the eponymous characters respectively. The film also co-stars Mare Winningham, Craig T. Nelson and Reginald VelJohnson. It w ...
'' (1989, co-written with Michael Blodgett, Daniel Petrie, Jr., Jim Cash, and Jack Epps, Jr., co-story with Blodgett and Petrie) * ''
Cadence In Classical music, Western musical theory, a cadence () is the end of a Phrase (music), phrase in which the melody or harmony creates a sense of full or partial resolution (music), resolution, especially in music of the 16th century onwards.Don ...
'' (1990, screenplay) * ''
Run Run(s) or RUN may refer to: Places * Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia * Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant People * Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
'' (1991, co-written with Michael Blodgett) * '' Fifty/Fifty'' (1992, co-written with Michael Butler) * ''Malevolent'' (2002)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Shryack, Dennis 1936 births 2016 deaths American literary agents Musicians from Duluth, Minnesota Singers from Minnesota Screenwriters from Minnesota Film producers from Minnesota 20th-century American screenwriters 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers Writers from Duluth, Minnesota