Hayes, Joseph 1918-2006
(Joseph H. Arnold, Joseph Arnold Hayes)

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born August 2, 1918, in Indianapolis, IN; died of complications from Alzheimer's disease, September 11, 2006, in St. Augustine, FL. Author. Hayes, best known for his thriller The Desperate Hours, was the award-winning author of novels, stage plays, and films, usually in the crime genre. He originally intended to become a priest, but a bad experience as a seminary student led him instead to attend Indiana University. Graduating in 1941, he worked as an assistant editor for publisher Samuel French in New York City for two years. Hayes then embarked on a career writing for television and radio, completing a number of plays, such as The Thompsons (1944), The Bridegroom Waits (1946), and Leaf and Bough (1949), which was his Broadway debut. Hayes also wrote numerous plays with his wife, Marrijane. His greatest success came in 1954 with The Desperate Hours, which is about a family held hostage by escaped prisoners. The novel won the Indiana Author's Day award in fiction, and Hayes's stage adaptation resulted in a Tony Award-winning production starring Paul Newman. Hayes's film adaptation starred Humphrey Bogart and won the 1955 Edgar Award. Unfortunately, Hayes's story was the subject of several lawsuits, as victims of crimes similar to the one portrayed in his novel, play, and film accused the author of depicting their real-life experiences. Most of these charges were quickly dismissed, but one brought against Hayes by James J. Hill went to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967. The court ruled in favor of the defendant, saying that there was no "actual malice" intended. The ruling was important for expanding the requirements for proof of malice in First Amendment cases. Hayes continued writing but never equaled the success of The Desperate Hours. Among his other novels are The Third Day (1964), Missing and Presumed Dead (1976), and Act of Rage (1989). Other plays by Hayes include Calculated Risk (1962) and Is Anyone Listening? (1971). He also penned books under the pseudonym Joseph H. Arnold.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Los Angeles Times, September 23, 2006, p. B13.

New York Times, September 20, 2006, p. C13.

Washington Post, September 20, 2006, p. B8.