Ivan Tors

June 12, 1916 — Budapest, Hungary

Ivan Tors was a Hungarian-born American playwright, film director, screenwriter, and producer renowned for his contributions to science fiction and animal-themed entertainment. After studying at the University of Budapest, he emigrated to the United States in 1939, where he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Post-war, Tors joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a screenwriter. He co-wrote and produced Storm Over Tibet (1952) and created the "Office of Scientific Investigation" trilogy, including The Magnetic Monster (1953), Riders to the Stars (1954), and Gog (1954). Tors also developed television series like Science Fiction Theater (1955–1957), Sea Hunt (1958–1961), and Flipper (1964–1967). His Miami-based studio, now known as Greenwich Studios, was instrumental in producing underwater sequences and animal-centric stories. Tors passed away in Mato Grosso, Brazil, while scouting locations for a new television series.