Max Hodge

Max Hodge (February 12, 1916 – August 17, 2007)[1] was an American television writer who worked on shows including The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., CHiPS and Mission: Impossible, and is perhaps best known for creating Mr. Freeze for Batman. Max was well known by his family and friends for his stories. Everything in his stories lined up but sounded so far fetched you were left wondering wither it was real or not. His family will tell you that this is what made him a great writer. .[2]

Hodge grew up in East Moline, Illinois and Michigan, later graduating from the University of Michigan then enlisting in the Navy during World War II. He then attended Pasadena Playhouse College of Theater Arts and began his television career in the 1950s as a producer working on industrial shows for Oldsmobile.[2]

His writing career spanned the 1960s through the early 1980s, with Hodge writing for Dr. Kildare, The Wild Wild West, Marcus Welby, M.D., Ironside, The Waltons, The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan[3] in addition to the aforementioned ChiPS, Mission: Impossible, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. and Batman.[2] He also served as an associate producer on The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.[3]

Hodge is credited for creating Mr. Freeze for the Batman show, having taken the existing Batman comic character Mr. Zero which was created by Bob Kane and modifying elements to him. Mr. Zero first appeared in Batman #121 in February 1959, but Hodge took the character and introduced the trademark ice suit which he needed to survive, added the name Victor Fries, allowing for the new name Mr. Freeze, first appearing in the Deep Freeze episode.[3] Due to the popularity of the series these traits transitioned back into the comic series.[2]

Hodge died August 17, 2007 in Woodland Hills, California. He was 91 years old.[2]

Filmography

Films
YearFilmCreditNotes
1972 The Night Stalker Screenplay By (Uncredited) Television Movie
1973 A Dream For Christmas Screenplay By Television Movie

Television
YearTV SeriesCreditNotes
1965 Dr. Kildare Writer 2 Episodes
Valentine's Day Writer 1 Episode
1966 Batman Writer 4 Episodes
1966-67 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Writer, Associate Producer 29 Episodes
1967 Hondo Writer 1 Episode
1968 Mission Impossible Writer 1 Episode
The Wild Wild West Writer 1 Episode
1969-76 Marcus Welby, M.D. Writer 4 Episodes
1970 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Writer 1 Episode
Medical Center Writer 1 Episode
1971 Mannix Writer 1 Episode
Alias Smith and Jones Writer 1 Episode
1971-72 Ironside Writer 5 Episodes
1972 The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan Writer 9 Episodes
1974 Apple's Way Writer, Story Editor 2 Episodes
Cannon Writer 1 Episode
Maude Writer 1 Episode
1975 Barbary Coast Writer 1 Episode
Caribe Writer 1 Episode
1975-76 The Waltons Writer 2 Episodes
1976-78 Police Woman Writer 3 Episodes
1978 Quincy, M.E. Writer 1 Episode
1978-80 CHiPs Writer 2 Episodes
1979 Supertrain Writer 1 Episode
1980 Eight Is Enough Writer 1 Episode
1981 Palmerstown, U.S.A. Writer 1 Episode

References
  1. MAX HODGE (1916-2007), Social Security Death Index
  2. Variety Staff (2007-08-22). "Max Hodge, 91, TV writer". Variety. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  3. Melrose, Kevin (2007-08-21). "Max Hodge, TV writer who 'created' Mr. Freeze, dies". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
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