I.A.L. Diamond

Born Itek Dommnici in Ungheni, Romania, on June 27, 1920, I.A.L. Diamond became an academic champ in the U.S. He eventually made his way to Hollywood and was a prolific screenwriter from the 1950s through the '70s. He collaborated with director Billy Wilder on film comedies like Some Like it Hot (1959); Kiss Me, Stupid (1964); and Avanti! (1972), with both winning a writing Academy Award for The Apartment (1960). Diamond died on April 21, 1988.