Alvin Lawrence Gordon (April 21, 1923 – May 23, 2012) was an American television comedy writer. He was best known for his work on shows such asThe Jack Benny Program,The Carol Burnett Show,Tony Orlando and Dawn, andThree's Company.
Gordon was born inAkron, Ohio, the middle of three children born to Nathan Gordon (né Gorodetsky), a jeweler and Sylvia Gordon (née Milton), Jewish immigrants fromRussia. The family relocated toThe Bronx in his early childhood. He served in the Air Corps duringWorld War II and was stationed inThe Azores, where he pitched jokes to a troupe of writers stranded on the island. Post-War, these writers invited him to move toLos Angeles, where he began his comedy career in earnest.
After a brief stint working forEddie Cantor, Al found work withThe Jack Benny Program prior to its move to television. With partnerHal Goldman, he co-ran the radio show when Benny transitioned to television. Gordon, along with Goldman and the other Benny writers, received both the 1959 and 1960Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.[1] Both Gordon and Goldman continued to work for Benny until his death in 1974.
In addition to his work for Benny, Gordon worked on dozens of other projects, includingThe Carol Burnett Show,227, andThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, where a youngSteve Martin got his start.[2] Gordon also won the1966 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety for aCarol Channing special,An Evening With Carol Channing. He was nominated for seven other Emmys.
Notably, throughout his career, Al was employed for every single television season until his retirement.
Gordon married Charlotte (née Berkus), a first cousin, once removed ofNate Berkus, and together, they had two children: Neil Gordon (b. 1953), a television director, and Jill (b. 1955), a television writer.[1] His granddaughter, Victoria Gordon, is also a comedy writer and performer.
Gordon retired in the early 1990s and spent much of the 90s and early 2000s as a caregiver to his wife, who hadAlzheimer's disease. She was a resident of theMotion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital until her death in 2008.[3]
Al's death was announced in May 2012.[1]
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