William Hanley (October 22, 1931 – May 25, 2012) was an American playwright, novelist, and scriptwriter, born in Lorain, Ohio.
Hanley attended Cornell for a year, then served in the Army in the early 1950s, before enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, though he never pursued an acting career.
In addition to writing many novels James Hanley also wrote plays for the theatre, radio and television.
[6] William Hanley died May 25, 2012, after suffering a fall in his home in Ridgefield, Connecticut and was buried in the family plot at Mapleshade Cemetery, next to his parents and sister.
He was the original screenwriter on The Graduate (1967), but walked off the project after getting notes he didn't agree with from director Mike Nichols.