Writing partners JIM CASH and JACK EPPS, JR. have co-authored numerous box office hits over the past 20 years. Their credits include: Legal Eagles, starring Robert Redford and Debra Winger (1986); Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis (1986); The Secret of My Success, with Michael J. Fox (1987); Turner & Hooch, starring Tom Hanks (1989); Dick Tracy, starring Warren Beatty and Madonna (1990); and Anaconda, starring Jennifer Lopez, Eric Stoltz and Jon Voight (1997). Their last film writing credit was The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000).

Cash, a native of Grand Rapids, received his B.A. in English from MSU in 1970 followed by a M.A. in Television and Radio in 1972. For many years he taught writing and film history at MSU and supported a writing award named in his honor. Jim Cash died in 1999.

Epps, who grew up in the Detroit area, received his B.A. in English in 1972. While a student, he worked as a film critic for the State News and founded and directed the path breaking and critically praised Mid-West Film Festival held in East Lansing in the early 1970s. Today Jack Epps lives with his family in Santa Monica, California, where he continues to write for film and television, and teaches at the USC Film School.

They began their writing relationship while MSU students and wrote their first story together in the MSU Union Grill in 1975. Soon afterwards Epps moved to Hollywood, but the separation did not impede their ability to write successful screenplays. Probably one of the most unique writing relationships in the history of Hollywood, Cash lived in East Lansing, Michigan, while Epps live in Santa Monica, California. They collaborated by computer across country and only saw each other face to face a handful of times.