Tom Whedon | |
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| Born | Thomas Avery Whedon[1] (1932-08-03)August 3, 1932 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | March 23, 2016(2016-03-23) (aged 83) |
| Alma mater | Phillips Exeter Academy (1955) |
| Occupation | Screenwriter |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 5, includingJoss,Jed andZack |
| Parents |
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Thomas Avery Whedon (August 3, 1932 – March 23, 2016) was an American screenwriter and producer fromNew York known for his work on television programs such asThe Golden Girls,Benson,Alice,It's a Living, andThe Dick Cavett Show. Whedon began his career as one of the original writers on the 1955 television seriesCaptain Kangaroo. He also collaborated withJon Stone to produce the 1969 TV filmHey, Cinderella! featuringthe Muppets.
In 1973, Whedon won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program for theJim Henson programThe Electric Company, which was shared with the show's writing staff. He received two additionalPrimetime Emmy Award nominations forThe Golden Girls in 1990 and 1991 and twoDaytime Emmy Award nominations forThe Electric Company andBetween the Lions. His father,John Whedon, was also a screenwriter. He had five children, includingJoss Whedon,Jed Whedon, andZack Whedon. Tom Whedon died on March 23, 2016.
Whedon was born inNew York City,New York.[2] He was the son of Louise Carroll (Angell) and 1950s TV screenwriterJohn Whedon.[3][4][5] He graduated fromPhillips Exeter Academy in 1955. He and his first wife, political activist Ann Lee (née Jeffries) Stearns, are the parents of sons Samuel (b. 1960) and Matthew Thomas (b. 1962), and film and TV screenwriterJoss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer,Angel,Firefly,Dollhouse, andMarvel's The Avengers).[3] Tom and his second wife, Pam Webber, are the parents of screenwriter and musicianJed Whedon (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) and scriptwriterZack Whedon (Fringe,Deadwood).
He was an original writer for the children's television showCaptain Kangaroo, which aired on weekday mornings onCBS from 1955 to 1984.[3][4]
As early as 1964, he collaborated withJon Stone on a concept for a puppet-centered children's television series using the fairy-taleCinderella as a basis. During this process, they became acquainted with the creative, but then relatively unknown,Jim Henson and hisMuppets. The trio went on to make theHey, Cinderella! TV special for ABC in 1970.[3]
In the 1970s, Tom Whedon (along with Stone) worked for theChildren's Television Workshop, becoming head writer for the award-winning showThe Electric Company.[3] Additional writing credits include the more adult fare ofThe Dick Cavett Show,Benson,Alice, andThe Golden Girls.[3][4]
Whedon died on March 23, 2016, surrounded by family, according to anInstagram post by his son Jed Whedon.[6]
| Date | Award | Category | Work | Shared with | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming - Entertainment/Fictional | The Electric Company | John Boni, Sara Compton, Tom Dunsmuir, Thad Mumford, Jeremy Stevens, and Jim Thurman | Won |
| 1974 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming | The Electric Company | John Boni, Sara Compton, Tom Dunsmuir, Thad Mumford, Jerry Stevens, and Jim Thurman | Nominated |
| 1990 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | The Golden Girls | Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, Susan Harris, Marc Sotkin, Terry Hughes, Phillip Jayson Lasker, Gail Parent, Martin Weiss, Robert Bruce, Tracy Gamble, and Richard Vaczy | Nominated |
| 1991 | Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, Susan Harris, Mark Sotkin, Phillip Jayson Lasker, Gail Parent, Richard Vaczy, Tracy Gamble, Don Seigel, Jerry Perzigian, and Nina Feinberg | Nominated |
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