BREAKING NEWS

James Bond series screenwriter dies in Hollywood at age 68

LOS ANGELES — Tom Mankiewicz, the screenwriter of such James Bond films as "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Live and Let Die" and the first two "Superman" movies, has died in Los Angeles at 68.
Mankiewicz died Saturday at his home after battling cancer. He underwent the Whipple operation, which is used to treat pancreatic cancer, three months ago.
A cause of death was not immediately known.
He was a member of Hollywood's legendary Mankiewicz family: His father was Joseph L. Mankiewicz, director of classics including "All About Eve," ''A Letter to Three Wives" and "The Barefoot Contessa." He was also the nephew of "Citizen Kane" co-writer Herman J. Mankiewicz.
Tom Mankiewicz directed the 1987 movie "Dragnet," starring Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks, and several episodes of the TV series "Hart to Hart."