Rod Serling was an American screenwriter and television producer, widely known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series The Twilight Zone. Serling was born on December 25, 1924, in Syracuse, New York. He was active in politics, both on and off the screen, and helped form television industry standards. Serling was known as the "angry young man" of Hollywood, clashing with television executives and sponsors over a wide range of issues, including censorship, racism, and war. He was nominated for nine Primetime Emmy Awards and won six times.