Writer-director-producer Shavelson dies

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Melville Shavelson, an entertainment industry triple-threat as a writer, director and producer, died of natural causes in his California home at age 90.

During his career, Shavelson wrote more than 35 feature films either solo or in collaboration and created two Emmy Award-winning television series, "Make Room for Daddy" and "My World and Welcome to It," the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

Shavelson, who died Wednesday in Studio City, worked with stars such as Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball and Kirk Douglas. He earned Academy Award nominations for original screenplays for "Houseboat" and "Yours, Mine and Ours."

"He never dropped an actor. I loved working with him," Douglas said in a statement.

Among the films he wrote and directed were "It Started in Naples," "On the Double," "Yours Mine and Ours" and "The War Between Men and Women."

Shavelson was president of the Writers Guild of America-West and wrote several books, including his autobiography released on his 90th birthday this year, "How to Succeed in Hollywood Without Really Trying: P.S. -- You Can't!"

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, two children and three grandchildren.