Emmy-Winning Scribe Art Baer Dies

Wrote for Happy Days, Odd Couple and other Landmark Series

Los Angeles, CA - Cancer claimed Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Art Baer on Sunday, Sept. 17. New York native Baer, 81, began his career writing for The Robert Q. Lewis Show, after graduating from New York University.

There, he met his writing partner of 40 years, Ben Joelson, with whom he completed more than 100 scripts for such well-known sitcoms as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., Get Smart, The Odd Couple, Car 54, Where Are You?, Alice, The Jeffersons, Hogan's Heroes and Happy Days.
 

In 1977, Baer and partner Joelson began an eight-year stint with Aaron Spelling's production team as writers and executive producers of The Love Boat.
 

Baer also worked on programs with variety stars Perry Como, Flip Wilson, Victor Borge, Jonathan Winters and more. He shared a writing Emmy with Carol Burnett in 1972.
 

Baer is survived by his partner of 45 years, Charles Colarusso, and brother, Paul.

Editor's Note:
Charles Colarusso, a producer of such television shows as Every Second Counts and Dream House, died December 7, 2006.