Arthur Hailey

"Wheels" (1971), "The Moneychangers" (1975) and "Overload" (1979) also claimed the number one position on the national bestseller lists, further establishing Hailey as one of today's most popular novelists.

"Airport" (1968) did even better. It was on the national lists for over a year, staying in the number one spot on The New York Times bestseller lists for an incredible 30 weeks.

It took Hailey four years to write his next novel: "Hotel" (1965), which remained on the national bestseller lists for a full year.

In 1959, "The Final Diagnosis" became his second bestseller and, in 1961, "In High Places" became his third.

"Flight Into Danger" was adapted as a novel, "Runway Zero-Eight" (1958).

For the next few years, he wrote teleplays for such legendary dramatic series as Days Of Wine & Roses - Cliff Robertson & Piper Laurie, "Playhouse 90" Original TV Version (1956), Kraft Theatre (1947), The United States Steel Hour (1953), "Goodyear-Philco Playhouse" (1955)_ and Studio One in Hollywood (1948). Soon after, Hailey became a novelist.

Born April 5, 1920 in Luton, England, Arthur Hailey decided to become a full-time author in 1956 following the success of his original television drama Encounter: Flight Into Danger (1956).