Renowned American screenwriter Herman Raucher, celebrated for his Oscar-nominated masterpiece “Summer of ’42” and a prolific career spanning television, advertising, novels, and plays, passed away at the age of 95. According to a statement from his family, Raucher succumbed to natural causes on December 28.

Hailing from New York, Raucher embarked on his writing journey in the realms of television and advertising before making his mark in feature films. Among his early successes were the screenplays for “Sweet November,” Melvin Van Peebles’ “Watermelon Man,” and the eccentric musical comedy “Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe And Find True Happiness?” This last endeavor earned him the Writers Guild of Great Britain award for Best Original Screenplay in 1970.

One of Raucher’s most notable contributions was his dual role as novelist and screenwriter for “Summer of ’42.” The 1971 film, directed by Robert Mulligan for Warner Bros, achieved significant box office success and garnered an Oscar nomination for Raucher’s screenplay. The romantic drama also secured two additional nominations and a win for composer Michel Legrand at the 1972 Academy Awards.

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Raucher’s diverse repertoire extended beyond “Summer of ’42,” including screenwriting credits for “Class Of ’44,” “Ode To Billy Joe,” “The Other Side Of Midnight,” and the 2001 remake of “Sweet November,” featuring Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron in lead roles. Apart from his cinematic achievements, Raucher authored several novels, such as “A Glimpse of Tiger,” “There Should Have Been Castles,” and “Maynard’s House.”

While Herman Raucher is often mistakenly credited as a ghostwriter for the film “The Great Santini,” he, in fact, contributed to a failed television adaptation pilot in the 1980s. Nonetheless, he continued to receive substantial fan mail for “The Great Santini,” second only to the letters inspired by “Summer of ’42.”

Journalist and novelist Preston Fassel acknowledged Raucher’s influence on his own writing, particularly citing “A Glimpse of Tiger.” Fassel, who corresponded briefly with Raucher during college, credited the veteran writer with inspiring him to pursue a career in fiction writing. Fassel later penned a biographical article about Raucher, solidifying the enduring impact of Raucher’s legacy on the literary and cinematic landscape.