November 09, 2012

Frank Peppiatt, Hee Haw Co-Creator

Peppiatt produced several variety shows before launching Hee Haw, the long-running rural-themed comedy series.

Frank Peppiatt, co-creator, writer and producer of Hee Haw, the long-running, rural-themed variety series, died November 7, 2012, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He was 85.

According to news reports, the cause was of bladder cancer.

In addition to Hee Haw, Peppiatt worked on numerous variety shows for artists such as Andy Williams, Cher, Perry Como, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Steve Allen, Judy Garland, Jonathan Winters, Barbara Mandrell, Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews, Jackie Gleason and Grace Kelly, among others, amounting to nearly 2,500 hours of primetime TV.

A native of Toronto, he got his start in Canadian television with shows such as After Hours and On Stage.

Prior to his passing, Peppiatt wrote a memoir, When Variety Was King: Memoir of a TV Pioneer: Featuring Jackie Gleason, Sonny and Cher, Hee Haw and More, which will be published in April of 2013.

More about his life and work is available at:

Variety

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