Jim Bishop

James Alonzo Bishop (November 21, 1907 – July 26, 1987) was an American journalist and author who wrote the bestselling book The Day Lincoln Was Shot.

Early life Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, he dropped out of school after eighth grade. In 1923, he studied typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping, and in 1929 began work as a copy boy at the New York Daily News. In 1957, he started his column, Jim Bishop: Reporter, with King Features Syndicate, which continued until 1983. It also landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents.

Bishop spent the remainder of his career writing biographical books about notable figures and Christian-themed books.

Bishop's book The Day Lincoln Was Shot was published in 1955. Bishop had worked on the book for 24 years. The book was successful, selling more than 3 million copies, and it was translated into 16 languages.

Bishop died of respiratory failure on 26 July 1987 at his home in Delray Beach, Florida. and again as a 1998 TNT made-for-television film of the same name, starring Lance Henriksen as Lincoln and Rob Morrow as Booth.

The Day Christ Died was made into a television film in 1980, starring Chris Sarandon as Jesus Christ and Keith Michell as Pontius Pilate.