Claim: Rod Serling clashed with television sponsors.

Rodman Edward `` Rod '' Serling -LRB- December 25 , 1924 -- June 28 , 1975 -RRB- was an American screenwriter , playwright , television producer , and narrator known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science-fiction anthology TV series , The Twilight Zone . Serling was active in politics , both on and off the screen , and helped form television industry standards . He 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 .