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Prolific screen and television writer and past president of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) John Furia Jr has died. He was 79. Tonight, the WGA put out this statement: "He is remembered not only as a colleague and mentor to his fellow writers, but also as a stalwart advocate for their rights." And WGAW President Patrick Verrone eulogized that “John’s character and dignity touched and influenced generations of writers from the founders of the Guild itself to the newest of student-associates. For those of us who relied on his knowledge and his counsel, John was more than an éminence grise; he was pure eminence.”
Furia’s involvement in the entertainment industry stretched far beyond his work as a writer-producer for major studios and networks. In addition to being WGAW president from 1973-1975, he was a chair of the National Council of the Writers Guilds East and West, past president and board member of the Writers Guild Foundation, and a founding vice president of the Humanitas Prize. He also served on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the Board of Directors of the National Captioning Institute.
He was a recipient of three of the WGAW’s Honorary Awards in recognition for his outstanding contributions to the Guild. In 1978, he received the Morgan Cox Award for service to the Guild; in 1990 he was given the Valentine Davies Award for contributions to the entertainment industry and the community-at-large; and in 1994 he was honored with the Edmund H. North Award, “presented to those members whose courageous leadership, strength of purpose and continuing selfless activity in behalf of the Guild through the years, as well as professional achievement of the highest order, have served to establish the Writers Guild of America as a pillar of strength and security for writers throughout the world.”
Furia was also a founding chairman of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema-Television Writing Division and remained in the program as a full professor teaching writing for screen and television.
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Furia’s class was impossible to get into. He was a great teacher and a great man. I’ll miss him.
A good man, a wise man, a man whose talent and insight I shall forever admire. Here’s to Furia.
John was one of the good guys. I had the honor of being one of his students at USC. He was an old-fashioned gentleman who ruled the classroom with dignity and decorum. RIP.
He just passed my thesis last month.
Oh my god, I just saw him yesterday.
John Furia Jr. was a class act. He was my instructor in two screenwriting courses at USC. They were among my best experiences there. He was always available for consultation and never less than totally involved in your work. Even after I left USC, he continued to work with me on scripts, giving detailed and thoughtful analysis. What’s more, he was a really great guy, fun and encouraging. I don’t know if I’ll ever find somebody in Hollywood as decent, nice and generous as John. He will be missed by so many.
John was a class act, a wonderful teacher and a great mentor. He was cultured, generous, insightful, witty, and, above all else, deeply decent. He will be missed.
I was lucky enough to be one of John Furia’s students, and saw him just the other day. Up to the end, he was ever-present in the halls at USC — a wonderful mentor and teacher. He will definitely be missed.
John was just a great guy. He will really be missed. Like many others I was one of his students at USC and I appreciated his class and dignity.
I’m sure he will be missed by students and faculty at SC in addition to his family and friends.
I have been lucky enough to have known John for the last 15+ years as his daughter in law. It’s nice to read all these nice comments about John and how he was well liked at USC. He will forever be in my heart. He is truly missed.
I would just like to echo the above comments. John was my instructor at USC, and afterward I had the privilege of being his TA. He was an incredible teacher who took each student and their ambitions seriously. I am a writer because of him. He will be greatly missed.
Dear John,
Thank you for giving me the chance to be a writer. From the very first day I met you, when I was just a scared freshman 3000 miles from home, through all the emails we’ve exchanged in the years since, you never let me forget that I am a writer — always. You made me want to be better, to work harder, stand straighter, and never let anything (especially writer’s block, which, as we were taught on day one, does not exist) stand in the way of telling an amazing story.
Thank you — more than I could ever tell you.
Katie
You’re at my computer with me every day, John. Thanks for believing in me.
Thank you Mr. Furia.
I was very young when I last saw this wonderful man, but I have heard his name through the years and still have memories of my trips to his homes. I am now 35 years old and living in the East Coast. I had the opportunity to go to university, become a professional, marry, and have my own family because of this human being’s generosity.
I decided to Google Mr. Furia’s name today because my mother recently mentioned him again (she was hoping that he was well; she and I remember his smile).
Let me start from the beginning. My mother was employed by Mr. Furia in California in the 80’s. Because of his great heart and sponsorship, my mother was able to become a legal resident of the United States, in result giving me the life that I now have.
I am truly sorry about his passing and pray for him and his family. I know that my mother will also be mournful about the news and would like me to extend her condolences to Mrs. Furia and family. God Bless you, Maria and Claudia Bonilla