Biography

Mickey Spillane was godfather to his son, Nathan.

His novel "Stolen Away" is the longest first-person private eye novel ever written.

Wrote the Dick Tracy comic strip begining in 1977 and ending in the early 1990s. he has contributed to a number of other comics as well, including Batman.

Lists his five favorite private eye television shows as: 'Veronica Mars (2004-2007)', 'City of Angels (1976)', 'Mike Hammer (1956-1959)'(starring Darren McGavin), 'A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2000- )', and 'The Rockford Files (1974-1980)'. The runner-up is 'Peter Gunn (1958-1961)'.

Is known primarily as a novelist and critic. His most famous series is the "Nathan Heller" series of historical detective novels. He has also written a critical work praising Mickey Spillane.

Eliot Ness is the most famous real-life detective in American history, but probably no historical figure has been more misunderstood or misrepresented... Surprisingly the real story is more exciting and colorful than the Hollywood version -- Ness fought gangsters, corrupt cops and even America's first serial killer.

On the making of The Expert (1995): "Lustig and I wanted a cast of character actors - somebody like Ed Ward or Lance Henriksen in the lead, backed up by Fred Williamson and Charles Napier and Robert Forster. Ex-Green Berets on a final mission, invading Death Row after the death penalty is repealed, to perform the executions the state had reneged on. I had this great bit where Williamson was to be the guy who went in to execute everybody; he goes in laden down with weaponry - and promptly gets killed. Then, thanks to him, everybody on Death Row is suddenly armed, and the shit hits the fan."

I don't really consider 'The Expert' a "bad" experience. Frustrating, yes, but overall constructive, and I still consider Bill Lustig a friend, and a talented filmmaker. We'll probably work together again. It was in the midst of the constant rewrites of 'The Expert'...did you know it was a Dirty Dozen script, for most of its life, until Speakman was cast?

On completing Mickey Spillane's unpublished Mike Hammer novels: "I am working from substantial partial manuscripts - at least half of each book already written by Mickey. That I will be collaborating with Mickey on at least three Hammer novels is thrilling to me beyond words. This is highly unusual, because I am working not only with his wife Jane's blessing, but Mickey's own: he asked me to complete these novels. First up: "The Goliath Bone," the final Hammer chronologically.'

On finishing the Mike Hammer series by Mickey Spillane: "Mickey's file of unpublished material was extensive - another trio of Hammers can follow, if these three do well. This is a very big deal - there are only 13 Mike Hammer novels, and adding another three (or six) to the canon is unheard of for so famous a mystery series."