Elliott Lewis was a highly acclaimed American novelist, producer, director, and actor, who left a significant mark on the radio and TV industry during the 20th century. He was known for his versatility and wide range of work, which earned him the nickname of "Mr. Radio." Lewis was born as Elliott Bruce Lewis in New York City, New York, on November 28, 1917, to Rabinowitz and Julius Lewis. He had a brother named Raymond Lewis and spent his childhood in Mount Vernon, New York.
In his early career, Lewis made a name for himself as an actor, writer, producer, and director in radio. He was involved in over 900 network radio programs in various capacities, which earned him recognition from CBS Radio Publicity as "Mr. Radio." His voice was also featured on Gordon Jenkins' classic recording of "Manhattan Tower" on Decca Records in 1945. Although he had a successful radio career, his movie career was not as prolific, with only three films to his credit. As the 1950s progressed, Lewis shifted his focus away from acting to concentrate on writing, producing, and directing.
As a writer, Lewis was known for his efficiency in writing stories in the mystery, suspense, and crime fiction genres. He published his first novel in 1980, at the age of 63, featuring a private detective named Bennett. He went on to write a series of books about this character's adventures. After the "Golden Age of Radio" ended, Lewis moved to TV as a producer of shows like "The Lucy Show" and "The Mothers-In-Law," and director of all but one episode of the final season of "Petticoat Junction." However, radio remained his first love, and he continued to direct the occasional radio play well into the 1970s.