Leonard B. Stern
Leonard Bernard Stern (December 23, 1922 – June 7, 2011) was an American screenwriter, film and television producer, director, and one of the creators, with Roger Price, of the word game Mad Libs.[1][2]
Life and career
Stern was born in New York City and majored in journalism at New York University.[1] He was a Women’s Army Corps recruiter while serving in the Army during World War II.[3]
Stern was a successful television writer who wrote for such now classic series such as The Honeymooners, The Phil Silvers Show,[1] The Steve Allen Show,[1] Tonight Starring Steve Allen and Get Smart (a program on which he served as executive producer). Stern created the signature opening door credits for Get Smart.[4] Stern also created "He & She," a 1967 CBS comedy which earned critical acclaim and an Emmy Award despite a short TV run.
Stern was also a writer for the 1952 Danny Thomas and Peggy Lee version of The Jazz Singer and a few Abbott and Costello films (with Martin Ragaway), among others. In the 1970s, he produced and directed the TV series McMillan & Wife, which starred Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James.[2]
Stern was the senior vice president of Price Stern Sloan (PSS). In 2000, after Price's death, Stern and another partner, Larry Sloan, launched another publishing company, Tallfellow Press, and acquired the rights to Droodles. Stern co-wrote, with Diane L. Robison, A Martian Wouldn't Say That (2000), a compilation of actual memos and notes from television executives.[5]
Early in his career, when he wanted to write feature films on his own, he had trouble finding work. When he finally got the assignment for Let's Go Navy! he adopted the pseudonym "Max Adams" because he "wasn't particularly proud of doing a Bowery Boys [film]".[6]
Personal life
Stern was married twice. His first marriage was in 1951 to actress Julie Adams. The marriage ended in divorce two years later in 1953. In 1956, Stern married actress Gloria Stroock, to whom he remained married until his death. The couple had two children, Kate and Michael.[7][8]
Death
On June 7, 2011, Stern died of heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills, California, aged 88.[1] He was survived by his wife of 55 years, actress Gloria Stroock, as well as a son, daughter, two grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.[1] Funeral services were held at Mount Sinai Memorial Park.[9]
Selected film and television credits
- Producer
- I'm Dickens, He's Fenster (1962–1963)
- Supermarket Sweep (1965)
- Get Smart (1965–1968)
- Run, Buddy, Run (1966)
- The Hero (1966–1967)
- He & She (1967–1968)
- The Good Guys (1968–1970)
- The Governor & J.J. (1969–1970)
- McMillan & Wife (1971–1976)
- The Snoop Sisters (1972–1974)
- Faraday & Company (1973)
- Holmes & Yoyo (1976–1977)
- Lanigan's Rabbi (1976)
- Rosetti and Ryan (1977)
- Operation Petticoat (1977–1978)
- Partners in Crime (1984)
- Get Smart, Again! (1989)
- Missing Pieces (film) (1992)
- Writer
- Africa Screams (1949) uncredited, with Martin Ragaway
- Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town (1950) with Martin Ragaway
- Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950) with Martin Ragaway
- The Milkman (1952) with Martin Ragaway
- Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair (1952) with Martin Ragaway
- Lost in Alaska (1952) with Martin Ragaway
- The Jazz Singer (1952)
- Three for the Show (1955)
- The Steve Allen Show (1956–1960)
- The Honeymooners (1955–1956)
- The Phil Silvers Show (1956)
- The Jackie Gleason Show (1953–1956)
- The Good Guys (1968)
- Director
- I'm Dickens, He's Fenster (1962–1963)
- Run, Buddy, Run (1966)
- He & She (1967)
- The Good Guys (1968)
- The Governor & J.J. (1969)
- McMillan & Wife (1971)
- The Snoop Sisters (1972)
- Holmes & Yoyo (1976)
- Lanigan's Rabbi (1977)
- Just You and Me, Kid (1979)
- Partners in Crime (1984)
- Missing Pieces (1992)
Awards
- Emmy Award, 1957, Best Comedy Writing-variety Or Situation Comedy (The Phil Silvers Show)
- Emmy Award, 1967, Outstanding Writing Achievement In Comedy (Get Smart)
References
- ^ a b c d e f Fox, Margalit (June 9, 2011). "Leonard B. Stern, Creator of Mad Libs, Dies at 88". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "Penguin Group website". Archived from the original on 2006-02-13. Retrieved 2006-02-13.
- ^ McLellan, Dennis; Times, Los Angeles (June 9, 2011). "Leonard Stern dies at 88; TV writer, producer also co-created Mad Libs". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Stern, Leonard (23 October 2017). "Leonard Stern - Archive Interview Part 7 of 9". televisionacademy.com. Interviewed by Gary Rutkowski; Jenni Matz. Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Event occurs at 9:50 ("Leonard Stern on the famous opening sequence of Get Smart; the nuances of the original idea"). Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ Stern, Leonard B. (2000). A Martian Wouldn't Say That. Tallfellow Press. ISBN 0967606152.
- ^ Writers Guild Foundation, (video; starts at 9:20 minutes). "The Writer Speaks: Leonard Stern (interview)". Youtube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Notice of Gloria Stroock/Leonard Stern marriage, nytimes.com; accessed August 22, 2014.
- ^ Obituary for Leonard B. Stern, foxnews.com; accessed August 22, 2014.
- ^ McLellan, Dennis (June 9, 2011). "Leonard Stern dies at 88; TV writer, producer also co-created Mad Libs". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012.
External links
- Leonard B. Stern at IMDb
- Leonard Stern interview at Archive of American Television – July 13, 2000 and August 20, 2008
- v
- t
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- James Allardice & Jack Douglas & Hal Kanter & Harry Winkler for The George Gobel Show (1955)
- Arnold M. Auerbach & Barry Blitzer & Vincent Bogert & Nat Hiken & Coleman Jacoby & Harvey Orkin & Arnold Rosen & Terry Ryan & Tony Webster for The Phil Silvers Show (1956)
- No Award (1957)
- Billy Friedberg & Nat Hiken & Coleman Jacoby & Arnold Rosen & A.J. Russell & Terry Ryan & Phil Sharp & Tony Webster & Sydney Zelinka for The Phil Silvers Show (1958)
- George Balzer & Hal Goldman & Al Gordon & Sam Perrin for The Jack Benny Show (1959)
- George Balzer & Hal Goldman & Al Gordon & Sam Perrin for The Jack Benny Show (1960)
- Dave O'Brien & Martin Ragaway & Sherwood Schwartz & Al Schwartz & Red Skelton for The Red Skelton Show (1961)
- Carl Reiner for The Dick Van Dyke Show (1962)
- Carl Reiner for The Dick Van Dyke Show (1963)
- No Award (1964)
- No Award (1965)
- Sam Denoff & Bill Persky for "Coast to Coast Big Mouth" (1966)
- Buck Henry & Leonard B. Stern for "Ship of Spies: Parts 1 and 2" (1967)
- Allan Burns & Chris Hayward for "The Coming Out Party" (1968)
- No Award (1969)
- No Award (1970)
- James L. Brooks & Allan Burns for "Support Your Local Mother" (1971)
- Burt Styler for "Edith's Problem" (1972)
- Lee Kalcheim & Michael Ross & Bernie West for "The Bunkers and the Swingers" (1973)
- Treva Silverman for "The Lou and Edie Story" (1974)
- Stan Daniels & Ed. Weinberger for "Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?" (1975)
- David Lloyd for "Chuckles Bites the Dust" (1976)
- James L. Brooks & Allan Burns & Stan Daniels & Bob Ellison & David Lloyd & Ed. Weinberger for "The Last Show" (1977)
- Harve Brosten & Barry Harman & Bob Schiller & Bob Weiskopf for "Cousin Liz" (1978)
- No Award (1979)
- R.J. Colleary for "The Photographer" (1980)
- Michael J. Leeson for "Tony's Sister and Jim" (1981)
- Ken Estin for "Elegant Iggy" (1982)
- Glen Charles and Les Charles for "Give Me a Ring Sometime" (1983)
- David Angell for "Old Flames" (1984)
- Ed. Weinberger & Michael J. Leeson for "Pilot" (The Cosby Show) (1985)
- Barry Fanaro & Mort Nathan for "A Little Romance" (1986)
- Gary David Goldberg & Alan Uger for "A, My Name is Alex" (1987)
- Hugh Wilson for "The Bridge" (1988)
- Diane English for "Pilot" (Murphy Brown) (1989)
- Bob Brush for "Good-bye" (1990)
- Gary Dontzig & Steven Peterman for "Jingle Hell, Jingle Hell, Jingle All the Way" (1991)
- Elaine Pope & Larry Charles for "The Fix-Up" (1992)
- Larry David for "The Contest" (1993)
- David Angell & Peter Casey & David Lee for "The Good Son" (1994)
- Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano for "An Affair to Forget" (1995)
- Joe Keenan & Christopher Lloyd & Rob Greenberg & Jack Burditt & Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano & Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo for "Moon Dance" (1996)
- Ellen DeGeneres & Mark Driscoll & Dava Savel & Tracy Newman & Jonathan Stark for "The Puppy Episode" (1997)
- Peter Tolan & Garry Shandling for "Flip" (1998)
- Jay Kogen for "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz" (1999)
- Linwood Boomer for "Pilot" (Malcolm in the Middle) (2000)
- Alex Reid for "Bowling" (2001)
- Larry Wilmore for "Pilot" (The Bernie Mac Show) (2002)
- Tucker Cawley for "Baggage" (2003)
- Mitchell Hurwitz for "Pilot" (Arrested Development) (2004)
- Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely for "Righteous Brothers" (2005)
- Greg Garcia for "Pilot" (My Name Is Earl) (2006)
- Greg Daniels for "Gay Witch Hunt" (2007)
- Tina Fey for "Cooter" (2008)
- Matt Hubbard for "Reunion" (2009)
- Steven Levitan & Christopher Lloyd for "Pilot" (Modern Family) (2010)
- Steven Levitan & Jeffrey Richman for "Caught in the Act" (2011)
- Louis C.K. for "Pregnant" (2012)
- Tina Fey & Tracey Wigfield for "Last Lunch" (2013)
- Louis C.K. for "So Did the Fat Lady" (2014)
- Simon Blackwell & Armando Iannucci & Tony Roche for "Election Night" (2015)
- Aziz Ansari & Alan Yang for "Parents" (2016)
- Aziz Ansari & Lena Waithe for "Thanksgiving" (2017)
- Amy Sherman-Palladino for "Pilot" (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) (2018)
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge for "Episode 1" (2019)
- Dan Levy for "Happy Ending" (2020)
- Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky for "There Is No Line" (2021)
- Quinta Brunson for "Pilot" (Abbott Elementary) (2022)
- Christopher Storer for "System" (2023)
- Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky for "Bulletproof" (2024)