Joseph Hayes was an American playwright, novelist and screenwriter born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the son of Harold Joseph, a furniture dealer, and Pearl M. Arnold Hayes. When he was thirteen, Hayes entered a Benedictine monastery, St. Meinrad Seminary High School in Southern Indiana, staying for two years. After graduating from Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis in 1936, he married Marrijane Johnston in 1938 and they had three children: Gregory, Jason, and Daniel. Hayes studied at Indiana University with his wife from 1938–1941. In 1949, he brought "Leaf and Bough" to Broadway. In 1954, he wrote the novelThe Desperate Hours, his most successful work, which he brought to Broadway under the same name. In an interview in 1987 over the novel, Hayes explained, "My influences were desperation. I wrote it in six weeks, working 16 to 17 hours a day. I did the thinking and took notes on the way down. was the most dramatic thing I could think of that would relate to the most people.” The play won the 1955 Tony Award for Best Play. Hayes won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay for the 1955 screenplay of The Desperate Hours as well as the Indiana Authors Day Award for the novel version. Hayes turned his play into the screenplay for the film version, also in 1955, and eventually again for the film re-make in 1990. Hayes became the first individual to write a novel, screenplay, and play from the same story, The Desperate Hours. In regards to the 1990 remake, Hayes stated that “..Since I’m the only writer who has ever done novel, play and screenplay solo from a single work of his own I can’t let anyone else at it." Hayes co-wrote with his wife both the original novel and screenplay for the Walt Disney movieBon Voyage! in 1962. Hayes also wrote his final Broadway play, Calculated Risk in 1962. Among his other novels are The Hours After Midnight, Don't Go Away Mad, The Third Day, The Deep End, Like Any Other Fugitive, The Long Dark Night, Missing and Presumed Dead, Island on Fire, Winner's Circle, No Escape, and The Ways of Darkness. Among his other plays are The Happiest Millionaire, The Midnight Sun, The Deep End, Is Anyone Listening?, Summer in Copenhagen, Impolite Comedy, and Come into my Parlor. Hayes was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Indiana University in 1970, and received the Honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Indiana University in 1972. Hayes died of Alzheimer's disease in 2006. Survivors included three sons, ten grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.
