Journalist and author who made an impressive screenwriting debut as the co-author, with Nora Ephron, of "Silkwood" (1983); the film earned five Oscar nominations including best original screenplay.
Arlen subsequently scripted Louis Malle's "Alamo Bay" (1985) and again collaborated with Ephron, as co-writer and co-executive producer, on Susan Seidelman's 1989 gangster comedy, "Cookie."