Alan Trustman, Writer of ‘Bullitt’ and ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ Dies at 95

Alan Trustman, the Harvard-educated lawyer who transitioned to Hollywood and penned the screenplays for the iconic 1968 films Bullitt and The Thomas Crown Affair, has died. He was 95 years old.

Trustman passed away on February 5th at a Miami nursing home, as confirmed by his son, John Trustman, to The New York Times.

From Law to Hollywood

Prior to his career in filmmaking, Trustman established himself as a corporate attorney in Boston. Born on December 16, 1930, in Brookline, Massachusetts, he received his education at Phillips Exeter Academy, followed by a history degree from Harvard College in 1952 and a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1955. He subsequently joined the Boston firm Nutter, McClennen & Fish, where his father was a partner, eventually becoming a partner himself.

A Serendipitous Path to Screenwriting

Trustman’s entry into the film industry was somewhat accidental. Inspired by a desire to create a better story than one he had seen at a drive-in, he began writing on weekends. This effort culminated in the script for The Thomas Crown Affair, a stylish heist film directed by Norman Jewison and starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.

Crafting Cool: ‘Bullitt’ and Beyond

He quickly followed The Thomas Crown Affair with another McQueen vehicle, Bullitt, the San Francisco-set police thriller celebrated for its groundbreaking car chase sequence. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Trustman and Harry Kleiner adapted the screenplay from Robert L. Fish’s 1963 novel, “Mute Witness.” Bullitt played a significant role in solidifying McQueen’s image as a cool and stoic screen presence.

Trustman as well contributed to the screenplay of They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970), a sequel to the Oscar-winning In the Heat of the Night, featuring Sidney Poitier as detective Virgil Tibbs. His later credits include Lady Ice and Hit!

Later Ventures

After a relatively short period in Hollywood, Trustman pursued other business interests, including ventures in gambling in Miami and currency trading in Switzerland. He also authored the 1992 thriller novel, Father’s Day.

Survivors

Trustman is survived by his wife, Dr. Barbara Buchwald, a psychiatrist, as well as a son, a daughter, and eleven grandchildren.