Samson Raphaelson

Born in New York City, Samson Raphaelson was an American playwright, screenwriter, and fiction writer whose career stretched across much of the 20th century. He studied at the University of Illinois and first worked as a journalist and advertising man before turning to dramatic writing.

His breakthrough came with the story "The Day of Atonement," which he adapted into the play The Jazz Singer in 1925. That success opened the door to a major screen career, and he became especially admired for his collaborations with director Ernst Lubitsch on films including Trouble in Paradise, The Shop Around the Corner, and Heaven Can Wait.

Raphaelson is remembered for witty, emotionally intelligent writing that helped shape both stage and screen comedy. Later in life he also taught screenwriting, sharing the craft experience he had built over decades in theater and film.