Alan Trustman

Alan Trustman (also credited as Alan R. Trustman) was an American writer whose sharp, contemporary storytelling helped define late-1960s Hollywood thrillers. Born on December 16, 1930, in Boston, Massachusetts, he built a multifaceted career that spanned far beyond film, bringing a worldly, detail-driven sensibility to the screen.

Before becoming known for screenwriting, Trustman worked as a lawyer and later ventured into specialized fields including pari-mutuel operations and currency trading. That unusual professional range informed his cinematic voice—cool, procedural, and attuned to the mechanics of power, money, and risk.

Trustman’s most enduring reputation rests on his writing for landmark crime and action titles such as The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Bullitt, and They Call Me Mister Tibbs!. His work helped shape the era’s sleek, urban tone, pairing character-driven tension with a modern sense of style.

He remained connected to film history through later appearances, including Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans as himself. Trustman died on March 5, 2026, leaving behind a legacy linked to some of American cinema’s most influential genre classics.