Paddy Chayefsky

Born Sidney Aaron Chayefsky to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants, Paddy Chayefsky became one of the most celebrated and influential writers of the Golden Age of Television and subsequent film era. His parents, Louis and Gussie Chayefsky, ensured a strong familial connection to their Jewish heritage, although Chayefsky himself wasn't overtly religious.

Chayefsky won three Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay—for "Marty" (1955), "The Hospital" (1971), and "Network" (1976)—the latter two known for their blistering satire. His work often explored themes of alienation, media manipulation, and the human condition, making him a prescient voice whose observations only seem to grow more relevant with time.

While he might not have been lighting Shabbat candles every Friday, Chayefsky's sharp wit and critical eye gave us "Network," which practically invented the phrase "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" and then gave it to a prophetically deranged news anchor. That's kvell-worthy enough to forgive a few missed services, wouldn't you say?