Unsung heroes of TV
by BWRocks | created - 23 Aug 2015 | updated - 24 Aug 2015 | PublicThese are the people behind the small screen that are responsible for so much. These are the writers, the producers, the directors, and the creators. These are the true "stars" of television. Listed in no particular order, I tried to include the talented people that I am mostly familiar with. I truly wish to thank them for all that they have done.
1. Howard Leeds
Writer | Diff'rent Strokes
Howard Leeds, the sitcom veteran who developed The Facts of Life and produced and wrote for The Brady Bunch, Diff'rent Strokes and Silver Spoons,
In the late 1970s, Leeds was a producer on the hit Diff'rent Strokes, starring Conrad Bain and child star Gary Coleman, when he was asked by NBC head Fred...
2. Bob Schiller
Writer | Maude
Bob Schiller was born on November 8, 1918 in San Francisco, California, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Maude (1972), All in the Family (1971) and Flip (1970). He was married to Sabrina Scharf and Joyce Gloria Harris. He died on October 10, 2017 in Pacific Palisades, California, USA.
3. Jay Sandrich
Director | Mary Tyler Moore
Jay Sandrich was born on February 24, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was a director and assistant director, known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970), The Cosby Show (1984) and Soap (1977). He was married to Linda Green Silverstein and Nina Kramer. He died on September 22, 2021 in Los ...
4. Tony Thomas
Producer | Dead Poets Society
Tony Thomas was born on December 7, 1948 in Hollywood, California, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Dead Poets Society (1989), The Golden Girls (1985) and Insomnia (2002). He has been married to Ann Souder since September 24, 2005.
5. Sid Krofft
Producer | Land of the Lost
Sid Krofft was born on July 30, 1929 in Athens, Greece. He is a producer and writer, known for Land of the Lost (2009), Pryor's Place (1984) and Land of the Lost (1974).
6. Marty Krofft
Producer | Land of the Lost
Marty Krofft was born on April 9, 1937 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was a producer and writer, known for Land of the Lost (2009), Pryor's Place (1984) and Land of the Lost (1974). He was married to Christa Rogalski (Christa Speck). He died on November 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
7. Jerry Thorpe
Producer | Kung Fu
Jerry Thorpe was born on August 29, 1926 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was a producer and director, known for Kung Fu (1972), The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove (1979) and The Venetian Affair (1966). He was married to Dee Turnell. He died on September 25, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California, USA.
8. Lloyd J. Schwartz
Producer | The Brady Bunch
Lloyd J. Schwartz has been successful TV, motion pictures and theatre. Beginning with his work as a dialogue coach on his father, Sherwood Schwartz's series, "It's About Time," "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch," he swiftly rose to producer and with Sherwood became the only father/son ...
9. Jess Oppenheimer
Writer | I Love Lucy
Jess Oppenheimer (November 11, 1913 - December 27, 1988)
Lucille Ball called Jess Oppenheimer "the brains" behind I Love Lucy (1951), and with good reason. As series creator, producer, and head writer, "Jess was the creative force behind the 'Lucy' show," confirms director William Asher. "He was the...
10. Sherwood Schwartz
Writer | Gilligan's Island
Sherwood Schwartz was born on November 14, 1916 in Passaic, New Jersey, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Gilligan's Island (1964), The Red Skelton Hour (1951) and The Running Man (1987). He was married to Mildred Schwartz. He died on July 12, 2011 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
11. Madelyn Davis
Writer | I Love Lucy
Madelyn Davis was born on March 15, 1921 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. She was a writer and producer, known for I Love Lucy (1951), The Tom Ewell Show (1960) and Yours, Mine & Ours (2005). She was married to Dr. Richard Merrill Davis and Quinn Martin. She died on April 20, 2011 in Bel-Air, ...
12. Jean Rouverol
Actress | It's a Gift
Jean Rouverol was born on July 8, 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She was a writer and actress, known for It's a Gift (1934), Bar 20 Rides Again (1935) and Guiding Light (1952). She was married to Hugo Butler. She died on March 24, 2017 in Wingdale, New York, USA.
13. Bob Weiskopf
Writer | Maude
Bob Weiskopf started his prolific career writing jokes in 1940 and later wrote for Eddie Cantor, Fred Allen, Danny Thomas, Red Skelton, Phyllis Diller and Carol Burnett. He also wrote for many TV sitcoms including I Love Lucy, won Emmys for All in the Family and the Flip Wilson Show.
14. Bob Carroll Jr.
Writer | I Love Lucy
Bob Carroll Jr. was born August 12, 1918, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. At the age of three, Carroll and his family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. His interest in writing was sparked when as a teenager he entered a radio contest, submitting a script he had written while laid up in bed recovering ...
15. Milt Josefsberg
Script_department | All in the Family
Milt Josefsberg was born on June 29, 1911 in New York, USA. He was a writer, known for All in the Family (1971), The Jack Benny Program (1950) and The Lucy Show (1962). He died on December 14, 1987 in Burbank, California, USA.
16. Robert O'Brien
Writer | Say One for Me
Robert O'Brien was born on May 8, 1918 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for Say One for Me (1959), Lady on a Train (1945) and The Lucy Show (1962). He was married to Lina Romay. He died on November 7, 2005 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
17. Frank Dungan
Writer | Barney Miller
Frank Dungan is known for Barney Miller (1975), Sister Kate (1989) and Campus Cops (1995).
18. Bernie Kukoff
Writer | Reggie
Bernie Kukoff is known for Reggie (1983), Detective School (1979) and Operation Petticoat (1977).
19. Paul Junger Witt
Producer | Dead Poets Society
Paul Junger Witt was born on March 20, 1941 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a producer and director, known for Dead Poets Society (1989), The Golden Girls (1985) and Three Kings (1999). He was married to Susan Harris and Ann Elizabeth McLaughlin. He died on April 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, ...
20. Brian Cooke
Writer | George & Mildred
Brian Cooke was born on December 13, 1937 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK. He is a writer, known for George & Mildred (1976), Man About the House (1973) and Starting from Scratch (1988).
21. Johnnie Mortimer
Writer | Never the Twain
Johnnie Mortimer's name was not widely known but he was the author of many of television's best known and most fondly remembered comedies. Television critics seldom gave him the credit his talents deserved but his success was unique. With his partner and longtime friend Brian Cooke he wrote series ...
22. Don Nicholl
Writer | Three's Company
Don Nicholl was born on August 9, 1925 in England, UK. He was a writer and producer, known for Three's Company (1976), All in the Family (1971) and The Jeffersons (1975). He was married to Gee Nicholl. He died on July 5, 1980 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
23. Michael Ross
Writer | Three's Company
Michael Ross was born on August 4, 1919 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Three's Company (1976), All in the Family (1971) and The Jeffersons (1975). He was married to Irene Saslaw. He died on May 26, 2009 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
24. Bernard West
Writer | Three's Company
Bernard West was born on May 30, 1918 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Three's Company (1976), All in the Family (1971) and The Jeffersons (1975). He was married to Miriam 'Mimi' Berman. He died on July 29, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California, USA.
25. Garry Marshall
Actor | A League of Their Own
Garry Kent Marshall (November 13, 1934 - July 19, 2016) was an American actor and filmmaker. He started his career in the 1960s writing for The Lucy Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show before he developed Neil Simon's 1965 play The Odd Couple for television in 1970. He gained fame for creating Happy ...
26. Jerry Belson
Writer | The Tracey Ullman Show
Jerry Belson was born on July 8, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for The Tracey Ullman Show (1987), The Odd Couple (1970) and Always (1989). He was married to Jo Ann Harris and Linnea Vivi-Ann Flogell. He died on October 10, 2006 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
27. Neil Simon
Writer | The Odd Couple
Neil Simon was born on July 4, 1927 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for The Odd Couple (1968), Murder by Death (1976) and The Goodbye Girl (1977). He was married to Elaine Joyce, Diane Lander, Marsha Mason and Joan Baim. He died on August 26, 2018 in ...
28. Michael G. Moye
Writer | The Jeffersons
Michael G. Moye was born on August 11, 1954 in the USA. He is a writer and producer, known for The Jeffersons (1975), Married... with Children (1987) and It's Your Move (1984). He has been married to Rose Jackson since 1996. They have one child.
29. Michael Leeson
Writer | Grand
Michael Leeson was a writer and producer, known for Grand (1990), The War of the Roses (1989) and The Tuxedo (2002). He died on July 27, 2016.
30. Wilford Lloyd Baumes
Producer | Wonder Woman
Wilford Lloyd Baumes is known for Wonder Woman (1975), Help, Inc. (1972) and The Love Boat (1977).
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