At 100, Golden Globes Veteran Noel de Souza Releases First Novel ‘Dust’

India-West Staff Reporter

LOS ANGELES, CA – Noel de Souza, actor, journalist, and longtime member of the Golden Globes, marked a rare milestone with the publication of his debut novel, ‘Dust’, on his 100th birthday. The book is co written with Patricia Danaher and is based on a screenplay de Souza first developed more than fifty years ago.

Born in Secunderabad, de Souza immigrated to the United States as a young man and went on to build a career that spanned decades and disciplines. As an actor, he appeared in acclaimed television series including ‘Star Trek’, ‘The West Wing’, ‘Alias’, and ‘ER’, earning recognition for performances noted for their restraint and depth. Beyond the screen, he spent more than seventy years associated with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, becoming a respected presence within the Golden Globes and a firsthand witness to Hollywood’s evolution across generations.

‘Dust’ is set in a parched Western town where the lives of displaced ranch hands, itinerant workers, and other marginalized figures converge in a forgotten jailhouse. The novel explores themes of labor, survival, and human dignity, and has drawn early comparisons to the work of John Steinbeck for its moral clarity and portrayal of struggle. The story originated as de Souza’s screenplay ‘The Bullpen’, written decades earlier and later reshaped into a novel with Danaher’s collaboration.

Despite facing significant challenges with his eyesight in later years, de Souza remained closely involved in the book’s creation, dictating scenes and shaping the narrative with care. Danaher, a journalist, mythologist, and editor, helped translate the cinematic vision into a fully realized work of fiction, giving the story literary structure while preserving its original intent.

More than a late debut, ‘Dust’ stands as the culmination of a century long life in the arts. It reflects de Souza’s enduring commitment to storytelling and his ability to bridge acting, journalism, and fiction.

Through ‘Dust’, Noel de Souza offers readers a meditation on endurance, injustice, and hope, informed by a lifetime of observation and experience. The novel serves not only as a work of fiction but also as a marker of an extraordinary life devoted to creativity, performance, and engagement with the world.