2004 Award Recipient

The Writers Guild of America, west has named prolific television writer James D. Buchanan as this year's recipient of the Morgan Cox Award, to be presented at the Guild's first-annual Honorary Service Award Luncheon on Wednesday, December 3, 2003.

"Embodying the true spirit of the WGAw, James has selflessly given back to the Guild through his many years of dedicated service. Rising far above the call of duty, he has consistently committed himself to improving the lives of writers everywhere," said WGAw president Victoria Riskin. "Tirelessly working to empower and enlighten their collective condition, James is more than deserving of this worthy award."

Devoting much of his professional career to serving his fellow writers, Buchanan (a WGAw member since 1964) has given countless hours to one of the Guild's most valuable core services: the credit arbitration process. Demonstrating uncommon grace under pressure, Buchanan has continued his crucial efforts to raise the profile of all writers, ensuring they are given their proper credit. In addition to co-vice chairing the WGAw's Screen Credits Committee for many years, Buchanan has served on the Guild's Board of Directors (1981-83), as well as a wide range of committees integral to the WGAw: writers workshop (co-chair, 1970-71); TV grievance (chair, 1973); finance (1972-73); freedom of expression and censorship (1973); strike service (co-chair, 1973); strike study (1974-75); screenwriters (theatrical film, 1974-79); board nominating (1974); TV award study (1977-81); strike planning (1980-82); strike disciplinary (1981-82); awards show (1983). A valuable player behind the scenes, Buchanan is known by Guild members as one of the genuine "quiet ones" forever working to maintain the dignity, power, and profile of the Guild, as well as ongoing support from its vital membership.

In addition to his longtime Guild service, Buchanan has carved out a prolific career as an acclaimed television- and screenwriter, working for over four decades on big and small screens. During the '60s and '70s, Buchanan contributed teleplays to several classic hit series, such as Charlie's Angels (including popular episodes like "Diamond in the Rough" and "Unidentified Flying Angels"), Mission Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, McCloud, Cannon, Banyon, Homicide, and a host of others, as well as serving as producer for such TV series as Charlie's Angels, Firehouse, and Chopper One, among others. Buchanan's TV-movie writing and co-writing credits include: Act of War (1985), The Return of Frank Cannon (1980), Beach Patrol (1979), Death Squad (1973), Fast Freight (1973), The Horror at 37,000 Feet (1973), and Paper Man (1971). Among his film writing and co-writing credits are the comic-book adaptation Brenda Starr (1987), '60s counterculture comedy The Happening (1967), Curacao (1993), Harry in Your Pocket (1973), and Midas Run (1968), among other titles.

The Morgan Cox Award is presented to that member or group of members whose vital ideas, continuing efforts and personal sacrifice best exemplify the ideal of service to the guild. Previous recipients of the Morgan Cox Award include Fay Kanin, Alfred L. & Helen Levitt, Leonard Spigelgass, Allen Rivkin, Melville Shavelson, Irma Kalish, Ann Marcus, George Kirgo, Del Reisman, D.C. Fontana, and last year's recipient, David W. Rintels.

The late Morgan B. Cox, who died in 1968, devoted much of his professional life to serving the Writers Guild, helping ensure that television writers were included under the jurisdiction of the Writers Guild.