Biography for
Rod Serling More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

25 December 1924, Syracuse, New York, USA

Date of Death

28 June 1975, Rochester, New York, USA (complications arising from a coronary bypass operation)

Birth Name

Rodman Edward Serling

Height

5' 4" (1.63 m)

Mini Biography

A former boxer, paratrooper and general all-around angry young man, Rod Serling was one of the radical new voices that made the "Golden Age" of television. Long before "The Twilight Zone" (1959), he was known for writing such high-quality scripts as "Patterns" and "Requiem for a Heavyweight," both later turned into films (Patterns (1956) and Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)). Even "The Twilight Zone" (1959) featured forays into controversial grounds like racism, Cold War paranoia and the horrors of war. His maverick attitude eventually drove him from regular network television.

IMDb Mini Biography By: James A. Wolf

Spouse

Carol Serling

(31 July 1948 - 28 June 1975) (his death) 2 children

Trade Mark

Distinctive voice

Always wore a suit and tie when presenting his shows

Science-fiction/Fantasy Storylines

Trivia

Moved to Binghamton, New York at an early age, where he graduated.

Interred at Interlaken Cemetery, Interlaken, New York, USA.

Communications professor at Ithaca College.

Born into a Reform Jewish family, he later became a Unitarian upon his marriage in 1948.

Suffered from combat-related flashbacks and insomnia.

Outspoken supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Military decorations from the Second World War include: World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with Arrowhead Device), Good Conduct Medal, Phillippine Liberation Medal (with 1 bronze service star), Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Honorable Service Lapel Pin. Also retroactively authorized the Bronze Star Medal, based on receipt of the Combat Infantryman Badge during the Second World War.

Served in the Army of the United States, under the service number 32 738 306, from January 1943 to January 1946. Discharged in the rank of Technician 5th Grade (the equivalent of a Corporal) having served as an Infantry Combat Demolition Specialist and a Paratrooper

Host of the syndicated radio show "The Zero Hour" (1973-1974).

Brother of writer/novelist Robert J. Serling.

Ranked #1 in TV Guide's list of the "25 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends" (1 August 2004 issue), the only real person on the list. All the others are TV show characters.

On June 28, 1975, he was mowing his lawn, when all of a sudden, he began to experience some chest pains, and collapsed. His neighbor found him and called the ambulance. When he arrived in the operating room, the doctors saw that the artery leading to his heart was disintegrating and there was no hope for him. He died later that day in the hospital.

He wanted Richard Egan to do the narration for "The Twilight Zone" (1959) because of his rich, deep voice. However, due to strict studio contracts of the time, Egan was unable to. Serling said "It's Richard Egan or no one. It's Richard Egan, or I'll do the thing myself," which is exactly what happened.

He owned a 1937 Cord automobile. During the making of "Liar's Club" (1969) game show, he would go riding with friend and fellow actor and car enthusiast Tommy Bond, who played Butch in the Little Rascals series from the 1940s.

Started writing during World War II while recuperating from his injuries.

Graduated from Binghamton High School in 1943.

Towards the end of his career, he narrated several documentaries about sharks and other underwater life that were shown a lot, at the time, in schools.

He usually dictated his scripts into a tape recorder and had his secretary type them up.

In 1994, 19 years after his death, he returned to "host" the pre-show area of "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" attraction at The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park in Orlando, Florida. Through clever use of carefully edited vintage "The Twilight Zone" (1959) footage, new footage processed in black & white and special additional dialogue recorded by a Serling soundalike (reportedly selected personally by Serling's widow, Carol), Serling appears in a "Twilight Zone" episode based on the ride's storyline and introduces theme park visitors to the attraction. This brief introduction, which is shown on a special vintage television in the attraction's pre-show area, represents the first "new" introduction of "The Twilight Zone" that he appears in since the series' end in 1964.

Helen Foley, his schoolteacher, encouraged him in his writing and he always believed he owed his success to her. A teacher in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) was named Helen Foley in her honor.

Along with many other famous faces, he was a pie-in-the-face recipient on "Lunch with Soupy Sales" (1959) (aka The Soupy Sales Show). Serling's turn came in 1962.

Robert Marshall Hosfeldt authored a 1961 MA Thesis at San Jose State College called "Analysis of the techniques and content of characterization in the Academy Award winning plays of Rod Serling." 'Academy,' in this case, referred to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

A news item in TV Guide the week of 7 December 1963 said that Serling would be visiting Hong Kong to film a television pilot called "Jeopardy Run.".

In 1975, Serling had two severe heart attacks before entering Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for heart bypass surgery. He had a third heart attack during the operation and died the following day, at the age of 50.

Appears on a 44¢ USA commemorative postage stamp, issued 11 August 2009, in the Early TV Memories issue honoring "The Twilight Zone" (1959).

Personal Quotes

Hollywood's a great place to live . . . if you're a grapefruit.

(on being born on Christmas Day, 1924) I was a Christmas present that was delivered unwrapped.

If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.

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