Maurice Richlin, 70; Won Oscar for ‘Pillow Talk’

Maurice N. Richlin, who shared an Academy Award for co-writing the 1959 film “Pillow Talk,” has died. He was 70.

Richlin died Tuesday at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica of cancer, his daughter, Elyssa Parton, said Friday.

The same year he won the Oscar for the comedy starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day, Richlin also received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay for “Operation Petticoat,” which starred Cary Grant and Tony Curtis.

In writing “The Pink Panther,” Richlin created the clumsy character Inspector Clouseau made famous by actor Peter Sellers.

Born in Omaha and educated at the University of Missouri, Richlin moved to Los Angeles after serving in the Army during World War II. He first worked as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and the Hollywood Citizen News, and then switched to fiction writing.

He wrote for the radio shows “Burns and Allen,” “The Bob Burns Show,” “The Edgar Bergen Show” and “The Amos and Andy Show.”

Richlin is survived by his wife, Louise, six children and three grandchildren.