Steve Shagan

Biography

Steve Shagan (October 6, 1927 – November 28, 2015) was an American screenwriter, novelist, and film and television producer. He was known for creating and producing projects centered on crime, suspense, and political intrigue.

Shagan began his career in television and later moved into feature films. He became particularly known for his work as a producer and writer on major Hollywood productions. His credits include The Formula (1980), The Wilby Conspiracy (1975), The Honorary Consul (1983), and Prizzi's Honor (1985).

Shagan wrote the screenplay for The Formula (1980), a thriller directed by John G. Avildsen and starring George C. Scott, Marlon Brando, John Gielgud, and Marthe Keller. The story follows a Los Angeles police detective investigating the murder of a friend and uncovering a secret Nazi formula for producing synthetic fuel. The film was based on Shagan's novel of the same name.

He also produced The Formula and was involved in several other film and television projects. His writing frequently explored corruption, international conspiracies, organized crime, and the hidden political forces behind seemingly ordinary events.

As a novelist, Shagan wrote several works of crime and suspense fiction, bringing his experience in Hollywood storytelling to the literary world. His career extended across several decades and encompassed screenwriting, producing, and fiction writing.

Steve Shagan died on November 28, 2015, at the age of 88. He is remembered particularly for The Formula and for his contributions to American crime and thriller cinema.