Sheldon Bernard "Shelly" Keller (August 20, 1923 – September 1, 2008) was an Americanscreenwriter andcomposer.
Keller was born inChicago and attendedUniversity of Illinois, where he began writing comedy with his fraternity brotherAllan Sherman. He served in the Pacific Theater with theUnited States Army Signal Corps duringWorld War II.
After the war, Keller came home and married Bernice "Bitsy" Berkowitz. They had two children, Casey and Jamie. In 1951, he borrowed $500 from his father-in-law and moved the family to New York hoping to become an entertainer and comedian. He soon began writing for television.
OnCaesar's Hour, starringSid Caesar, Keller worked with notable writersMel Brooks,Carl Reiner,Selma Diamond,Larry Gelbart,Mel Tolkin,Michael Stewart andGary Belkin. In 1956, 1957 and 1958 the show was nominated for Emmy Award for Best Comedy Writing – Variety or Situation Comedy.
Keller also wrote several episodes ofThe Dick Van Dyke Show andM*A*S*H, including "For Want of a Boot" and "The Chosen People". His notable screenplays includeBuona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (written withMelvin Frank andDenis Norden), which would later become the inspiration for the stage and film musicalMamma Mia!
Keller co-wrote the 1979 filmMovie Movie with Gelbart, winning theWGA Award for Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen. He also wrote the 1973 crime filmCleopatra Jones (withMax Julien).
Keller wrote television specials forFrank Sinatra,Danny Kaye andCarol Channing, winning a 1966 Emmy Award withHal Goldman andAl Gordon for writingAn Evening With Carol Channing.
In the early 1980s, as his writing career was winding down, Keller formed the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band with friendsConrad Janis andGeorge Segal. Their mix of jazz and comedy made them popular enough to play atCarnegie Hall and onThe Tonight Show and led to their own PBS special in 1993, "This Joint Is Jumpin'".
In later life, Keller collaborated with his friend Howard Albrecht onFunny Stuff, a newsletter of jokes for radio DJs and public speakers. Keller died at his home inValencia, Santa Clarita, California, from complications ofAlzheimer's disease.[1]
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