Sidney Sheldon (February 11, 1917-2007) - "Sheldon has over 200 television scripts, twenty-five major motion pictures, six Broadway plays, eighteen novels (which have sold over 300 million copies) and one memoir to his credit, ranking him as one of the world's most prolific writers." - www.Sidney Sheldon.com. Born Sidney Schechtel, Sheldon's prolific writing career began at age 10. By the time of his death, Sheldon had conquered Broadway, Hollywood, the New York Times Best Seller list and even the Guinness Book of World Records, earning an Oscar, a Tony, an Edgar Allen Poe Award and a Hollywood Star along the way.