Paul Raley

Paul Raley

Date of Passing: June 06, 2015
Obituary: Variety

Paul Raley was a writer and producer best known for his work on the ABC comedy Grace Under Fire, as well as his multiple appearances on David Letterman’s daytime talk show.

Grace Under Fire aired for five seasons, from 1993 to 1998, and was nominated for two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes. Raley began writing for the show in ’93 and became a producer and executive story editor in ’95. The series featured stand-up comedian Brett Butler as a divorced mother of three and recovering alcoholic, trying to raise her children alone in a small Missouri town.

On NBC’s The David Letterman Show, which ran for four months in 1980, Raley wrote for the program  and appeared as the character P.J. Rails, a conspiracy theorist and former FBI agent. He later performed as the character at the Comedy Store. He also wrote two episodes of the comedic series Night Court in 1987 and 1988, including an episode titled "Night Court of the Living Dead," about a man who awakens from a 20-year coma. Additionally, he wrote for the television series Saturday Night Live, D.C. Follies and Harry and the Hendersons, as well as The Joe Piscopo New Jersey Special.

Paul Raley was a writer and producer best known for his work on the ABC comedy Grace Under Fire, as well as his multiple appearances on David Letterman’s daytime talk show.

Grace Under Fire aired for five seasons, from 1993 to 1998, and was nominated for two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes. Raley began writing for the show in ’93 and became a producer and executive story editor in ’95. The series featured stand-up comedian Brett Butler as a divorced mother of three and recovering alcoholic, trying to raise her children alone in a small Missouri town.

On NBC’s The David Letterman Show, which ran for four months in 1980, Raley wrote for the program  and appeared as the character P.J. Rails, a conspiracy theorist and former FBI agent. He later performed as the character at the Comedy Store. He also wrote two episodes of the comedic series Night Court in 1987 and 1988, including an episode titled "Night Court of the Living Dead," about a man who awakens from a 20-year coma. Additionally, he wrote for the television series Saturday Night Live, D.C. Follies and Harry and the Hendersons, as well as The Joe Piscopo New Jersey Special.

Raley died June 6, 2015, in Los Angeles. He was 71.

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