Victor Miller was the primary writer on the original FRIDAY THE 13TH, which is why he has taken director/producer Sean S. Cunningham to court in a battle over the U.S. copyright to that film. But Miller wasn't the only writer on the first F13 – as the project headed into production, author Ron Kurz was hired to handle rewrites. Two of Kurz's contributions are the scene where motorcycle cop Dorf stops by the camp, and perhaps the most famous moment in the film: the end jump scare where little Jason Voorhees, who drowned more than twenty years earlier, launches himself out of Crystal Lake to pull the heroine out of a canoe.
When FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 was put in motion, Kurz was brought back to write the screenplay, so he was the first writer to present Jason Voorhees as a mask-wearing murderer. The character would change a lot over the course of the franchise, but Kurz got Jason's killing spree started.
Sadly, Kurz passed away on May 7th. According to his obituary, the cause of death was sudden heart failure. He was 79.
Ron was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on Nov. 27, 1940, to Gordon L. Kurz and Dorothy D. (Driver) Kurz.
He graduated from Parkville High School, in Parkville, Maryland, in 1958, at 17 years old. He hitchhiked around the country after high school. Still 17, he joined the U.S. Army. He served from 1958-61 in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and in the 8th Infantry Division in Germany as a scout and demolition specialist.
He worked as a corrections officer with the Maryland Department of Corrections for eight years. He quit to write a novel about the experience, published as “Lethal Gas” in 1974. He then worked as a theater manager in Baltimore for JF Theatres and Schwaber Theatres while writing in his off hours. His second book, “Black Rococo,” published in 1976, was written about those experiences.
With the publication of his first novel, he moved to New Hampshire in January of 1975. From 1975-82 he worked as a novelist and screenplay writer. He had various projects with Bud Yorkin Productions, CBS Television and Georgetown Productions, where he wrote the final draft of FRIDAY THE 13TH and all of FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2. He also wrote KING FRAT (as Mark Jackson), EYES OF A STRANGER, and OFF THE WALL.
From 1982 to a few years ago he ran a one-man home-based antiquarian book business.
Ron’s quiet presence hid a lively wit, and a kind and generous spirit. He had a great love for the written word, and a lifelong love of movies. He cared deeply for his wife and family. He was passionate about animals, especially dogs. He will forever be missed.
Kurz is survived by his wife, Ann Dillon; two sons, Scott Nelkens Kurz and Daniel Nelkens Kurz; his former wife, Bethany Porter Kurz, and their two daughters, Zessi Ann Kurz and Elyse Muriel Kurz and his sister, Susan Kurz. He is predeceased by his brother, John Kurz, and survived by John's family.
I haven't seen KING FRAT or OFF THE WALL yet, but they're on my "must watch" list now. I have seen EYES OF A STRANGER, a 1981 slasher that was made by the same investors that were behind FRIDAY THE 13TH and had Tom Savini handling the special effects. That one is definitely worth a look. FRIDAY THE 13TH is a horror classic, and PART 2 is one of the best sequels ever made. I'm thankful to Kurz for his contributions to these films, as he helped my favorite franchise get rolling. Fans will continue watching those movies over and over again for a long time to come.
Our condolences go out to Kurz's family, friends, and fans.