Who was Norma Barzman? Famous Blacklisted Screenwriter Dead at 103

Norma Barzman, a respected screenwriter from the 1940s whose Hollywood career faced disruption due to the infamous Hollywood blacklist, passed away at the age of 103 on Sunday, December 17, 2023.

Norma, born as Norma Levor in New York City on September 15, 1920, led a life spanning both the United States and Europe. She celebrated her 21st birthday by moving to Hollywood after spending two years at Radcliffe and a brief period as the wife of Claude Shannon in Princeton, New Jersey, before their divorce in 1941.

In Hollywood, her journey took a significant turn when her older cousin, a writer, facilitated her enrollment at the School of Writers, known for its leftist orientation. In 1942, at a Halloween party, she encountered and eventually married the emerging screenwriter Ben Barzman, who was a decade her senior. Subsequently, in 1943, she joined the Communist Party, aligning herself with her husband, who was already a member.

Norma Barzman passed away at her Beverly Hills residence from natural causes, surrounded by her family, as disclosed by her daughter Suzo Barzman to The Hollywood Reporter. Her life and career reflect an era of political turbulence and artistic passion, leaving an indelible mark on the history of Hollywood.