[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4623]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO MR. SIDNEY SHELDON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MARY BONO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 16, 2007

  Mrs. BONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay special 
tribute to a great American playwright, television visionary and 
literary artist whose stories and characters have entertained and 
impacted the lives of generations of Americans, Mr. Sidney Sheldon.
  For more than 20 years Sidney Sheldon was a prominent and respected 
force in television who created such popular programs as I Dream of 
Jeannie (1965-70), Hart to Hart (1979-84), and The Patty Duke Show 
(1965-70). These sitcoms helped propel the careers of some of our most 
beloved actors on stage and screen including Barbara Eden, Larry 
Hagman, Stephanie Powers, Robert Wagner, and Patty Duke.
  As a legendary writer, Sidney Sheldon won numerous awards that 
spanned three careers--a Broadway playwright, a Hollywood TV and movie 
screenwriter, and a bestselling novelist.
  At the age of 50, Sidney Sheldon focused on creating best-selling 
novels that included Master of the Game (1982), The Other Side of 
Midnight (1973) and Rage of Angels (1980). Although those were his most 
famous literary works, Sidney Sheldon also published a total of 18 
novels.
  When expressing his passion for composing novels, Sidney Sheldon 
stated, ``I love writing books. Movies are a collaborative medium, and 
everyone is second-guessing you. When you do a novel you're on your 
own. It's a freedom that doesn't exist in any other medium.''
  Sidney Sheldon was a proud American Veteran, who upon his return from 
service during WorId War II, focused his attention on writing plays for 
Broadway. In recognizing Sheldon's unquestionable talent as a 
playwright, Sidney Sheldon won a Tony award for his work on the play 
Redhead in 1959.
  Over the decades, Sheldon accrued numerous awards and recognition for 
his commitment to television, film, and stage, including winning an 
Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay (1947) for The Bachelor 
and the Bobby-Soxer; and an Emmy Award for his work on I Dream of 
Jeannie, which aired on NBC.
  Although Sidney Sheldon was born in Chicago, Illinois, he remained a 
life-long resident of the Coachella Valley. I was deeply fortunate to 
call the legendary Sidney Sheldon a friend.
  I extend my deepest sympathy to the entire Sheldon family for their 
loss; a loss we all share. The passionate works of Sidney Sheldon that 
defined a generation will continue to live in the hearts of countless 
future generations of Americans. We celebrate his memory and our Nation 
is better for his service.

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