Biography.guide
Home › People › Writer › N. J. Crisp
Portrait of N. J. Crisp

N. J. Crisp

1923 – 2005

British writer

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About N. J. Crisp

Lived 1923 – 2005 (aged 81). N. J. Crisp was a British writer, novelist, playwright and screenwriter.

Norman James Crisp (11 December 1923 – 14 June 2005), known as a writer only by his initials and surname, N. J. Crisp, was a British television writer, dramatist and novelist.

In the 1960s, after writing single dramas, Crisp moved to writing for serials and turned out scripts for BBC series including Compact, R3, Dixon of Dock Green, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, Colditz and Secret Army.

In 1968, he co-created The Expert, a serial about a forensic scientist, with its producer Gerard Glaister. Four years later the pair repeated these roles with the boardroom drama The Brothers.

His 1996 play That Good Night starred Donald Sinden, Nigel Davenport, Lucy Fleming, Patrick Ryecart and Julie-Kate Olivier and was directed by Edward Hall. The film of the same title, based on Crisp's play, received its world premiere in June 2017 at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. It was John Hurt's final film, and was nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film.

Crisp's 1987 psychological thriller Dangerous Obsession was filmed in 1999 as Darkness Falls, starring Ray Winstone, Tim Dutton and Sherilyn Fenn. Crisp was displeased with the end result and how his plot had been distorted without his permission that he insisted on having his name removed from the final print.

Personal life He was married to Marguerite (née Lowe), had three sons and one daughter and five grandchildren.

Writing credits Production Notes BroadcasterThe Dark ManTelevision drama (1960)BBC TelevisionBBC Sunday-Night Play"A Kind of Strength" (1961)

"The Alderman" (1962)

"The Man Who Opted Out" (1962)

"The Stepfather" (1962)BBC TelevisionITV Play of the Week"Two on the Beach" (1961)

"The Gentle Assassin" (1962)

"Danger Zone" (1963)ITV24-Hour Call"Cry for Help" (1963)ITVTaxi!"The Runaway" (1963)

"A State of Anxiety" (1964)

"Patterns of Behaviour" (1965)

"The Fratton Experiment" (1965)

"Experiment in Death" (1965)BBC1The Flying Swan"The Cupboard" (1965)

"Ice Storm" (1974)ITVColditz"Welcome to Colditz" (1972)

"Bribery and Corruption" (1972)

"Arrival of a Hero" (1974)

"The Gambler" (1974)

"Shore Leave" (1975)

"The Fatal Hours: Part 1" (1975)

"Working Weekend" (1977)

"The Ex-Mrs. Mackinnon" (1977)

"The Jerrybag" (1978)

"Post Mortem" (1980)"T

Released in UK cinemas on 11 May 2018Film

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Norman James Crisp, NJ Crisp, N.J. Crisp

People in N. J. Crisp's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped N. J. Crisp's

Frequently asked questions

Who was N. J. Crisp?

British writer (1923–2005)

When was N. J. Crisp born?

N. J. Crisp was born on 11 December 1923 in Southampton.

When did N. J. Crisp die?

N. J. Crisp died on 14 June 2005 in Southampton.

What was N. J. Crisp's occupation?

N. J. Crisp was a writer, novelist, playwright and screenwriter.

What nationality was N. J. Crisp?

N. J. Crisp was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: N. J. Crisp

· Wikidata: Q1561616

· DBpedia: N. J. Crisp

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). N. J. Crisp. https://biography.guide/n-j-crisp/

MLA: "N. J. Crisp." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/n-j-crisp/.

Chicago: "N. J. Crisp." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/n-j-crisp/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:18 UTC