Kurt Luedtke (/ˈluːtki/;[1] September 28, 1939 – August 9, 2020) was an American screenwriter and executive editor of the Detroit Free Press.
However, he switched career paths after traveling to the Southern United States to observe the unfolding civil rights movement and penned several articles on the subject as a freelancer.
[4] Luedtke offered to write the screenplay for free providing that he could have his idea back if Orion didn't proceed with the movie.
[4] Luedtke received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, a rare accomplishment for a first-time screenwriter.
[2] On August 9, 2020, Luedtke died from multiple organ failure at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, at the age of 80.