SIDNEY Sheldon, an Oscar-winning Hollywood screenwriter who went on to become one of the world’s most prolific novelists, died in California on Tuesday at the age of 89, a publicist said.

The always-charming Martin was in need of this Stateside box office success after a couple of non-starters … but lots of money does not make it a true hit.

The only actor ever to have received two Oscars for the same film has died, aged 88.