Don McGuire, a multifaceted American creative force, was born Don Rose in the vibrant city of Chicago on February 28, 1919. Prior to his illustrious career as a screenwriter and director, McGuire had a rich background in various fields, including journalism, where he began his professional journey as a reporter for the esteemed Hearst press.
Following four years of dedicated military service, McGuire transitioned to the world of acting, landing small roles as interns, barmen, and drivers on screen. However, after leaving Warner Brothers in 1948, he found it challenging to secure substantial roles and was eventually relegated to appearances in second features.
In response to this setback, McGuire decided to pivot and focus on writing film scripts, a decision that would ultimately prove to be a wise and fruitful one.
Throughout the 1950s, McGuire gained widespread recognition for his remarkable work in adapting Howard Breslin's story "Bad Time at Hondo" into the critically acclaimed drama Bad Day at Black Rock (1955),starring the legendary Spencer Tracy.
McGuire went on to work extensively in television, serving as writer and co-producer, alongside Jackie Cooper, on Cooper's series Hennesey (1959). Additionally, he experienced another significant success on the big screen with Tootsie (1982),for which he co-wrote the original story alongside Larry Gelbart.
Despite his overall satisfaction with the final product, McGuire was not entirely pleased with certain changes made to his original concept.
