David Shaw

David Shaw (born Samuel David Shamforoff, August 27, 1916 – July 27, 2007) was an American librettist, playwright, screenwriter, and television writer whose career spanned stage, film, and TV. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, his family later changed their surname to Shaw. He studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn before serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II as a Morse code operator in Africa.

After the war, Shaw began his writing career in radio in New York and later transitioned to Los Angeles, where he became known as a skilled comedy and television writer. His wit and versatility earned him steady work in Hollywood’s golden era of TV and theatre.

On Broadway, Shaw achieved notable success with the Tony Award–winning musical Redhead (1959), which starred Gwen Verdon and won Best Musical. He also wrote the book for Tovarich (1963), a musical starring Vivien Leigh that earned her the Tony Award for Best Actress. His earlier Broadway work included the short-lived play They Should Have Stood in Bed (1942).

In film, Shaw contributed the story for the political comedy A Foreign Affair (1948) and wrote the screenplay for the travel comedy If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1970), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. His television credits included acclaimed anthology series such as Playhouse 90, Philco TV Playhouse, The Defenders, and Studio One, showcasing his range from drama to comedy.

David Shaw died in Beverly Hills, California, on July 27, 2007, at the age of 90. His legacy lives on through his contributions to mid-20th century American entertainment, where his storytelling skill left an indelible mark on Broadway, Hollywood, and television.