Denne Bart Petitclerc, producer, novelist and writer for the big screen, stage and television, died of lung cancer Friday, Feb. 3, in Los Angeles. He was 76.
Ernest Hemingway's widow, Mary called Petitclerc, her husband's only real protégé. They met when Petitclerc was a young newsman at The Miami Herald during the 1950s.
He and his wife, Wanda, were residents of Ketchum for 35 years. In 2000, they initiated the Sun Valley Film Festival, which was attended by many industry leaders.
Born in Montesano, Wash., in 1929, Petitclerc was an award-winning war correspondent, newspaper reporter and editor. At 21, Petitclerc was the youngest U.S. war correspondent in the Korean War.
After writing a script for the television hit "Bonanza," Petitclerc eventually became the show's executive story editor. He created the TV series "Then Came Bronson" and "High Chaparral" and wrote and produced the series "Shane," starring David Carradine.
Other credits include the feature film "The Red Sun," with Charles Bronson and Toshiro Mifune, and television movies "Key West," "Men of the Dragon," "The Woman Who Sinned," "The Vivero Letter" and "The Cowboy and The Ballerina."
He wrote three novels: "Rage of Honor," "LeMans 24" and "Destinies."
Petitclerc was nominated for best adapted screenplay by the Writers Guild of America for his adaptation of Hemingway's novel "Islands in the Stream," which starred George C. Scott, David Hemmings (another former Ketchum resident) and Claire Bloom.
Petitclerc wrote, produced and directed the stage play "A Clean Well Lighted Place." He was also a volunteer mentor at several Southern California universities as well as through The Log Cabin Literary Society in Boise.
Petitclerc is survived by his wife, Wanda, five children, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two nephews.
The Petitclercs had spent the last couple years in Los Angeles for medical treatments.
"Denne loved Ketchum," Wanda said. "Ever since Hemingway invited him here. Wherever we might find ourselves working, we always knew Ketchum was home."
At the time of his death, "he was working on a story for a screenplay called 'Papa,' about his experiences with Hemingway," said granddaughter Lara Petitclerc-Stokes, of Seattle. "He was a wonderful, magical man."
His ashes will be buried in the Ketchum Cemetery later this year. Memorials should be sent to The Motion Picture and Television Fund, which Petitclerc had long supported. Visit www.mptvfund.org for information on donations.
Denne Bart Petticlerc
