One of the most critically lauded and commercially successful screenwriters in Hollywood history, six-time Oscar nominee Lehman was the only screenwriter in history to receive an honorary Academy Award, having penned screenplays for such wide-ranging classic films as North by Northwest, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Sabrina, and The Sound of Music.

"A creative giant among writers and within the industry, Ernest possessed one of the most distinctive voices of the last half-century. Adept at tackling a wide range of genres, his unforgettable contributions to the craft of screenwriting helped define what we've come to know as American film," said WGAw president Daniel Petrie Jr.

"Ernie Lehman was one of the last and greatest screenwriters of Hollywood's Golden Age. The only special effects in his brilliant screenplays were human beings," remarked writer and longtime friend Mel Shavelson, who worked with Lehman as a co-writer on the 59th, 60th, and 62nd Academy Award telecasts.

During his lengthy screenwriting career, which began when he wrote the story for The Inside Story in 1948, he received four Oscar nominations for screenwriting for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, West Side Story, North by Northwest, and Sabrina (with Billy Wilder and Samuel A. Taylor), which earned Lehman a shared Golden Globe for Best Screenplay in 1955. In addition, Lehman was nominated as a producer of Hello, Dolly! and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? A five-time WGA winner and nine-time WGA nominee, Lehman received Writers Guild Awards for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Sound of Music, West Side Story, The King & I, and Sabrina, as well as WGA nominations for Executive Suite, Somebody Up There Likes Me, North By Northwest, and Family Plot.

In 1972, Lehman received the guild's prestigious Screen Laurel Award. Over several decades, Lehman had been actively involved with the Writers Guild, including serving as WGAw president from 1983 to 1985, as well as on the WGAw board (1954-56, 1961-70, vice president of the Screen Branch [1965-67], and 1980-83). In addition, Lehman sat on many WGAw committees, as well as a lengthy stint on the Writers Guild Foundation board of directors.

When Lehman received his honorary Oscar on March 25, 2001 ("in appreciation of a varied and enduring body of work"), he was the first screenwriter ever to be so honored, telling the audience: "I accept this rarest of honors on behalf of screenwriters everywhere, but especially those in the Writers Guild of America. We have suffered anonymity far too often. I appeal to all movie critics and feature writers to please always bear in mind that a film production begins and ends with a screenplay. However, this glorious night is demonstrating that film belongs to many — to the creators of original works, to superbly talented actors, directors, producers and to gifted collaborators. Had it not been for all of them, I certainly would not be up here having one of the most exciting nights in a long lifetime.'

Born in New York City on December 8, 1915, Lehman grew up on Long Island and attended City College of New York before working as a copywriter for a Broadway theater publicist, an early work experience that would be later reflected in his novella and screenplay for Sweet Smell of Success. In 1943 at the age of 27, he sold his first story, "Double-Cross," to Liberty magazine. He worked as a freelancer for many years, writing stories, novellas, and radio comedy, as well as editing a financial magazine. His first screenplay after coming to Hollywood in 1953 was Executive Suite, on which he worked at Paramount Studios for John Houseman. His early publicity experiences in New York became an influence on his screenplay for Sweet Smell of Success (1957), co-written by Clifford Odets and based on Lehman's novella, Tell Me About It Tomorrow. Lehman also penned several popular novels, including the best-seller The French Atlantic Affair. Over the course of his career, Lehman worked with Alfred Hitchcock twice, on the thrillers North By Northwest and Family Plot, and with director Robert Wise four times, including epic musicals such as West Side Story and The Sound of Music. In addition to screenwriting, Lehman wrote short stories and several novellas, including The Comedian, which was dramatized as an episode of the acclaimed '50s Playhouse 90 television series (teleplay by Rod Serling).

Lehman is survived by his wife, Laurie, and their son, Jonathan, as well as his sons, Roger and Alan, from his marriage to his late first wife, Jackie; his daughter-in-law, Julie; and two grandchildren, Adele and Jack.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Writers Guild Foundation or the Motion Picture and Television Fund. A private memorial service will be held this Friday, July 8, in Los Angeles.