Zekial Marko

Zekial Marko (October 21, 1933 – May 9, 2008) was an American writer who specialised in crime stories, often under the pen name of John Trinian. He was arrested during filming of Once a Thief and spent some time in prison. He died of complications related to emphysema on May 9, 2008, in Centralia, Washington.

Zekial Marko was born as Marvin Leroy Schmoker on October 21, 1933, in Monterey County, California to Ruth Halverson and Wallace Cyril Schmoker. As children, Marko and his brother, Kenn Davisl Kenn were neighbors of John Steinbeck in Salinas, California.

After his parents divorced, Marko moved with his mother and brother to San Francisco. He attended grammar school there. At the beginning of WWII, Marko and his brother attended a Catholic boy's boarding school in Marin County. At the end of the war, Marko and his brother moved back with their mother and step father, Henry Davis. Kenn changed his surname to his step father's name. Marko changed his name to Zekial Marko.

"Marko, a flamboyant actor (later, a Hollywood screenwriter) from Salinas, stage-managed Goodwin's opera."

"Described as a troubled soul, Marko could also be brilliant and charming, and a powerful friend."