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Max Hodge

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Max Hodge (February 12, 1916 – August 17, 2007)[1] was an American television writer who worked on shows including The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., CHiPS and Mission: Impossible, and is perhaps best known for creating Mr. Freeze for Batman.[2]

Hodge grew up in East Moline, Illinois and Michigan, later graduating from the University of Michigan then enlisting in the Navy during World War II. He then attended Pasadena Playhouse College of Theater Arts and began his television career in the 1950s as a producer working on industrial shows for Oldsmobile.[2] In his time at University of Michigan- Ann Arbor, Hodge was chief editor of the student magazine the Gargoyle and president of the men's dramatic union, the Mimes.

His writing career spanned the 1960s through the early 1980s, with Hodge writing for Dr. Kildare, The Wild Wild West, Marcus Welby, M.D., Ironside, The Waltons, The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan[3] in addition to the aforementioned ChiPS, Mission: Impossible, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. and Batman. He also served as an associate producer on The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.

Hodge is credited for creating Mr. Freeze for the Batman show, having taken the existing Batman comic character Mr. Zero which was created by Bob Kane and modifying elements to him. Mr. Zero first appeared in Batman #121 in February 1959, but Hodge took the character and introduced the trademark ice suit which he needed to survive, first appearing in the Deep Freeze episode.[3] Mr. Freeze is addressed once as "Dr. Shimel" by Batman in the episode. In the comics, Freeze's other identity became "Art Shivel" (apparently a mishearing of how he was addressed on "Batman"). His name in the comics was later changed to Victor Fries.[2]

Hodge died August 17, 2007, in Woodland Hills, California. He was 91 years old.[2] Most of his works, scripts, and related supplemental material(including his script for "Mr.Freeze") were donated to his alma mater and can be found in the Donald Hall Collection of University of Michigan.

Filmography

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Films

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Year Film Credit Notes
1972 The Night Stalker Screenplay By (Uncredited) Television Movie
1973 A Dream For Christmas Screenplay By Television Movie

Television

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Year TV Series Credit Notes
1965 Dr. Kildare Writer 3 Episodes
Valentine's Day Writer 1 Episode
1966 Batman Writer 4 Episodes
1966-67 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Writer, Associate Producer 29 Episodes
1967 Hondo Writer 1 Episode
1968 Mission Impossible Writer 1 Episode
The Wild Wild West Writer 1 Episode
1969-76 Marcus Welby, M.D. Writer 4 Episodes
1970 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Writer 1 Episode
Medical Center Writer 1 Episode
1971 Mannix Writer 1 Episode
Alias Smith and Jones Writer 1 Episode
1971-72 Ironside Writer 5 Episodes
1972 The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan Writer 9 Episodes
1974 Apple's Way Writer, Story Editor 2 Episodes
Cannon Writer 1 Episode
Maude Writer 1 Episode
1975 Barbary Coast Writer 1 Episode
Caribe Writer 1 Episode
1975-76 The Waltons Writer 2 Episodes
1976-78 Police Woman Writer 3 Episodes
1978 Quincy, M.E. Writer 1 Episode
1978-80 CHiPs Writer 2 Episodes
1979 Supertrain Writer 1 Episode
1980 Eight Is Enough Writer 1 Episode
1981 Palmerstown, U.S.A. Writer 1 Episode

References

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  1. ^ MAX HODGE (1916-2007), Social Security Death Index
  2. ^ a b c d Variety Staff (2007-08-22). "Max Hodge, 91, TV writer". Variety. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  3. ^ a b Melrose, Kevin (2007-08-21). "Max Hodge, TV writer who 'created' Mr. Freeze, dies". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
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