Bob Schiller | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Achille Schiller (1918-11-08)November 8, 1918 |
| Died | October 10, 2017(2017-10-10) (aged 98) Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Television writer |
| Years active | 1950–2005 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4 (2 with each wife) |
| Relatives | Tom Schiller |
Robert Achille Schiller[1] (November 8, 1918 – October 10, 2017)[1][2] was an American screenwriter. He worked extensively with fellow producer/screenwriterBob Weiskopf on numerous television shows in the United States, includingI Love Lucy (1955–1957) andAll in the Family (1977–1979) on theCBS network. For the latter series, he received anEmmy Award in 1978 as one of the writers of the episode "Cousin Liz."
His second wife was American politician, actress and attorneySabrina Scharf.
Schiller was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Lucille E. (Block) and Roland E. Schiller, a manufacturer.[3] Schiller began writing for television in 1950. He starred on the 1955 CBSsitcomProfessional Father That same year, he wrote for two competing series,NBC'sThe Jimmy Durante Show and CBS'sIt's Always Jan.[4] During 1954–1955, Schiller was one of the writers forThat's My Boy, starringEddie Mayehoff andGil Stratton. Schiller's producing credits includeThe Good Guys andAll's Fair.
Schiller also penned radio scripts for such classic shows asDuffy's Tavern,Abbott and Costello,The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,The Mel Blanc Show,Sweeney and March,The Jimmy Durante Show, andDecember Bride, and then for TV stars such asDanny Thomas,Ed Wynn,Garry Moore, andRed Buttons.
The creative partnership and friendship withBob Weiskopf began in 1953. Weiskopf, also a comedy writer, had just relocated to Los Angeles from New York City. Schiller's first wife recommended a school to Weiskopf's wife, and also mentioned that Schiller was looking for a partner. The two writers first collaborated on a radio script for theOur Miss Brooks show before delving into the new medium of network television. They wrote for popular 1950s shows such asMake Room for Daddy,The Bob Cummings Show,I Love Lucy, the television adaptation of the popular radio seriesMy Favorite Husband,The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, andThe Ann Sothern Show (which they co-created).
Further success would continue into the 1960s and 1970s with such series asNew Comedy Showcase,Pete and Gladys,The Lucy Show,The Red Skelton Show,The Good Guys (where they were also co-producers),The Phyllis Diller Show,The Carol Burnett Show,The Flip Wilson Show,Maude (which they also co-produced),All in the Family and its spinoff series,Archie Bunker's Place. Schiller and Weiskopf were honored with twoEmmy Awards, a pair ofPeabody Awards, aGolden Globe, and theWriters Guild of America'sLaurel Award for TV Writing Achievement.[5]
Schiller's first wife Joyce Harris died in 1965.[6] They had two children, including directorTom Schiller. He was married to actressSabrina Scharf (née Trentman) from May 25, 1968, until his death on October 10, 2017, inPacific Palisades,California.[2] They also had two children.[2]
Schiller died on October 10, 2017, at his home, aged 98. According to official reports, the cause of death was not disclosed. He was interred at Eden Memorial Park, inLos Angeles,California.
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