Memorial Scheduled for Oscar-Nominated Screenwriter, Hollywood Resident

A memorial service will be held Feb. 9 for Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-nominated writer Thomas Cook.

Cook died Jan. 5 at his home in Hollywood from cancer, Gregg Mitchell, communications specialist with Writers Guild of America, West, announced Monday. He was 65.

Cook, who wrote under the name T.S. Cook, shared a best original screenplay Academy Award nomination with Mike Gray and James Bridges for their script for the 1979 nuclear power suspense thriller "The China Syndrome," losing to Steve Tesich for "Breaking Away." The trio also received Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations and won the Writers Guild Award for original drama-screen.

Cook's made-for-television movie credits include 1995's "The Tuskegee Airmen," which brought his writing team an Emmy nomination for outstanding writing for a miniseries or special; "Nightbreaker," which brought Cook a Writers Guild Award for original long form; "Attack on Fear"; and the Lucille Ball biopic "Lucy."

Cook also wrote or co-wrote episodes of such series as "Airwolf," "The Paper Chase" and "Baretta."

In recent years, Cook turned his energies to playwriting. He was a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre and a co-founder of Fierce Backbone Theatre Company. His play "Ravensridge" had its world premiere at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena in 2007.

Cook was born in Cleveland on Aug. 25, 1947. He is survived by his wife, Monique de Varennes, his children, Kate and Chris; his mother, Betty; and brothers, Jim and Bill.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Cook's name to the Writers Guild Foundation.

The memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. on Feb. 9 at the Hollywood United Methodist Church.