Leonard B. Stern
Encyclopedia
Leonard Bernard Stern was an American
screenwriter
, film and television producer
, director
, and one of the creators, with Roger Price
, of the classic word game Mad Libs
.
. Stern was a successful television writer who wrote for such now classic series such as Get Smart
, The Honeymooners
, The Phil Silvers Show
, The Steve Allen Show
and Steve Allen's Tonight Show. He also was a writer for the 1952 Danny Thomas
and Peggy Lee
version of The Jazz Singer
and several Abbott and Costello
films, among others. In the 1970s, he produced and directed the TV series McMillan and Wife
, which starred Rock Hudson
.
Stern was the senior vice president of Price Stern Sloan
(PSS). In 2000, after Price's death, Stern and another partner (Sloan) launched another publishing company, Tallfellow Press, and acquired the rights to Droodles. Stern co-wrote, with Diane L. Robinson, A Martian Wouldn't Say That (2000), a compilation of actual memos and notes from television executives.
, as well as a son, daughter, two grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.
Writer
Director
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, film and television producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, and one of the creators, with Roger Price
Roger Price (comedy)
Roger Price was an American humorist, author and publisher, who created Droodles in the 1950s, followed by his collaborations with Leonard Stern on the Mad Libs series...
, of the classic word game Mad Libs
Mad Libs
Mad Libs is a phrasal template word game where one player prompts another for a list of words to substitute for blanks in a story, usually with funny results...
.
Life and career
Stern was born in New York City. He studied at New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. Stern was a successful television writer who wrote for such now classic series such as Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
, The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners
The Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
, The Phil Silvers Show
The Phil Silvers Show
The Phil Silvers Show is a comedy television series which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959 for 142 episodes, plus a 1959 special. The series starred Phil Silvers as Master Sergeant Ernest G...
, The Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen (comedian)
Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent...
and Steve Allen's Tonight Show. He also was a writer for the 1952 Danny Thomas
Danny Thomas
Danny Thomas was an American nightclub comedian and television and film actor, best known for starring in the television sitcom Make Room for Daddy . He was also the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital...
and Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
version of The Jazz Singer
The Jazz Singer (1952 film)
The Jazz Singer is a 1952 remake of the famous 1927 talking picture, The Jazz Singer. It starred Danny Thomas, Peggy Lee, and Eduard Franz and was nominated for an Oscar in 1953. The film follows about the same storyline as the version starring Al Jolson. It was also distributed by Warner Bros...
and several Abbott and Costello
Abbott and Costello
William "Bud" Abbott and Lou Costello performed together as Abbott and Costello, an American comedy duo whose work on stage, radio, film and television made them the most popular comedy team during the 1940s and 1950s...
films, among others. In the 1970s, he produced and directed the TV series McMillan and Wife
McMillan and Wife
McMillan & Wife is a lighthearted American crime drama series that aired on NBC from September 17, 1971 to April 24, 1977. Starring Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James in the title roles, the series premiered in 90-minute episodes as part of the wheel series NBC Mystery Movie, in rotation with...
, which starred Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson
Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., later Roy Harold Fitzgerald , known professionally as Rock Hudson, was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1950s and 1960s, most notably in several romantic comedies with Doris Day.Hudson was voted "Star of the Year",...
.
Stern was the senior vice president of Price Stern Sloan
Price Stern Sloan
Price Stern Sloan or PSS! is a publisher that was founded in Los Angeles in the early 1960s to publish the Mad Libs that Roger Price and Leonard Stern had concocted during their stint as writers for Steve Allen's Tonight Show and also the Droodles...
(PSS). In 2000, after Price's death, Stern and another partner (Sloan) launched another publishing company, Tallfellow Press, and acquired the rights to Droodles. Stern co-wrote, with Diane L. Robinson, A Martian Wouldn't Say That (2000), a compilation of actual memos and notes from television executives.
Death
On June 7, 2011, Stern died of heart failure at at his home in Beverly Hills, California, aged 87. He was survived by his wife of 55 years, actress Gloria StroockGloria Stroock
Gloria Stroock was an American film and television actress who was born in New York City. The older sister of actress Geraldine Brooks, Stroock was best known for her supporting role in the television series McMillan & Wife as Maggie, the secretary of lead character Stewart McMillan...
, as well as a son, daughter, two grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.
Film and television credits
Producer- I'm Dickens, He's FensterI'm Dickens, He's FensterI'm Dickens, He's Fenster is an American sitcom that ran on ABC during the 1962-1963 season , and was created and produced by Leonard Stern, filmed at Desilu.-Synopsis:...
(1962–1963) - Duncan Be Careful [unsold pilot] (1964)
- Supermarket SweepSupermarket SweepSupermarket Sweep is an American television game show. Part of the format was similar to other team-based quiz shows; the other part was a live-action race through a supermarket, a novel concept at the time...
(1965) - Get SmartGet SmartGet Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
(1965–1968) - Run Buddy Run (1966)
- The HeroThe Hero-Film:*The Hero , an American silent comedy starring Oliver Hardy*The Hero , an American World War I drama directed by Louis J...
(1966–1967) - He & SheHe & SheHe & She is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network as part of its 1967-68 lineup, originally sponsored by General Foods and Lever Brothers. This landmark sitcom is widely considered to be ahead of its time by broadcast historians...
(1967–1968) - The Good GuysThe Good GuysThe Good Guys is an American sitcom which aired on CBS from September 25, 1968 to January 23, 1970. 42 color episodes were filmed in all. As with The Governor & J.J. and Get Smart, it was produced by Talent Associates and CBS Productions...
(1968–1970) - The Governor & J.J.The Governor & J.J.The Governor & J.J. is a television series that ran from 1969 to 1970 on CBS in the United States and in Canada, where it ran on CBC. Selected episodes were rerun by CBS during the summer of 1972. It was produced by Talent Associates and CBS Productions...
(1969–1970) - Shepherd's Flock [unsold pilot] (1971)
- McMillan & Wife (1971–1976)
- The Snoop SistersThe Snoop SistersThe Snoop Sisters was an American mystery television show that aired on NBC during the 1973–1974 season.-Plot:The show starred Hollywood film legends Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick as two elderly sisters who routinely stumbled across mysteries which they solved...
(1972–1974) - Faraday & CompanyFaraday & CompanyFaraday & Company is a crime drama television series that was part of the NBC Mystery Movie. It lasted for only four episodes, which were rotated with Banacek, The Snoop Sisters, and Tenafly on Wednesday nights during the 1973-1974 season....
(1973) - Diana (1973)
- Brock's Last Case (1973)
- Koska and His Family [unsold pilot] (1973)
- Phillip and Barbara [unsold pilot] (1976)
- Holmes and Yo-Yo (1976–1977)
- Lanigan's RabbiLanigan's RabbiLanigan's Rabbi is a short-lived American crime drama series that aired on NBC during the first half of 1977.-Synopsis:Based upon a series of novels by Harry Kemelman, the series starred Art Carney as Police Chief Paul Lanigan, who fights crime in a small California town with the help of his best...
(1976) - Three Times Daley [unsold pilot] (1976)
- Rosetti and Ryan (1977)
- Operation PetticoatOperation PetticoatOperation Petticoat is a 1959 comedy film directed by Blake Edwards, and starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. It was the basis for a television series in 1977 starring John Astin in Grant's role...
(1977–1978) - Partners in CrimePartners in CrimePartners in Crime may refer to:In literature:* Partners in Crime , a 1985 novel by Rolando Hinojosa* Partners in Crime , a 1929 collection of mystery stories by Agatha ChristieIn music:...
(1984) - Get Smart, Again!Get Smart, Again!Get Smart, Again! is a made-for-TV movie based on the 1965-1970 NBC/CBS television series, Get Smart!, which originally aired February 26, 1989 on ABC . It has subsequently been released twice on DVD by different publishers...
(1989) - Missing PiecesMissing PiecesMissing Pieces is an Australian factual television series that screened on the Nine Network in 2009. It was hosted by Peter Overton.Missing Pieces follows the stories of people who embark on a life-changing journey to find someone special who is missing from their lives. It has a similar premise to...
(1992)
Writer
- Africa ScreamsAfrica ScreamsAfrica Screams is a 1949 comedy film starring Abbott and Costello and directed by Charles Barton.-Plot:Diana Emerson is in the book department of Klopper's Department store looking for a copy of the book Dark Safari, written by the famed explorer Cuddleford...
(1949) - Ma and Pa Kettle Go to TownMa and Pa Kettle Go to TownMa and Pa Kettle Go to Town is a 1950 comedy film directed by Charles Lamont, it is the third of the ten films and revolves around Ma and Pa Kettle's trip to New York City.-Plot:After winning the house-of-the-future Ma and Pa are content...
(1950) - Abbott and Costello in the Foreign LegionAbbott and Costello in the Foreign LegionAbbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion is a 1950 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello.-Plot:Bud Jones and Lou Hotchkiss are wrestling promoters. Their star, Abdullah , no longer wishes to follow the script for their crooked matches, especially since he is supposed to lose his...
(1950) - The Milkman (1952)
- Okinawa (1952)
- Ma and Pa Kettle at the FairMa and Pa Kettle at the FairMa and Pa Kettle at the Fair is a 1952 comedy film directed by Charles Barton.The Cape Flattery County Fairis coming up, and Ma and Pa Kettle are ready to compete with Birdie Hicks on the contests.-Synopsis:...
(1952) - Lost in AlaskaLost in Alaska-Plot:The time is the 1890s, and the place is San Francisco. George Ball and Tom Watson are firemen who rescue 'Nugget' Joe McDermott from committing suicide by drowning. Joe wants to die because his girlfriend, Rosette no longer loves him...
(1952) - The Jazz SingerThe Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer may refer to:* The Jazz Singer , a 1925 Broadway play* The Jazz Singer , a film version of the play, and the first feature-length motion picture with talking sequences...
(1952) - Three for the ShowThree for the ShowThree for the Show is a 1955 musical comedy remake of Too Many Husbands. It starred actress Betty Grable in her last musical, opposite Jack Lemmon, Gower Champion and Marge Champion.-Cast:*Betty Grable as Julie Lowndes...
(1955) - The Steve Allen ShowThe Steve Allen ShowThe Steve Allen Show is an American variety show hosted by Steve Allen from June 1956 to June 1960 on NBC, from September 1961 to December 1961 on ABC, and in first-run syndication from 1962 to 1964....
(1956–1960) - The HoneymoonersThe HoneymoonersThe Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
(1955–1956) - The Phil Silvers ShowThe Phil Silvers ShowThe Phil Silvers Show is a comedy television series which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959 for 142 episodes, plus a 1959 special. The series starred Phil Silvers as Master Sergeant Ernest G...
(1956) - The Jackie Gleason ShowThe Jackie Gleason ShowThe Jackie Gleason Show is the name of a series of popular American network television shows that starred Jackie Gleason, which ran from 1952 to 1970.-Cavalcade of Stars:...
(1953–1956)
Director
- I'm Dickens, He's FensterI'm Dickens, He's FensterI'm Dickens, He's Fenster is an American sitcom that ran on ABC during the 1962-1963 season , and was created and produced by Leonard Stern, filmed at Desilu.-Synopsis:...
(1962–1963) - Run Buddy Run (1966)
- He & SheHe & SheHe & She is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network as part of its 1967-68 lineup, originally sponsored by General Foods and Lever Brothers. This landmark sitcom is widely considered to be ahead of its time by broadcast historians...
(1967) - The Good GuysThe Good GuysThe Good Guys is an American sitcom which aired on CBS from September 25, 1968 to January 23, 1970. 42 color episodes were filmed in all. As with The Governor & J.J. and Get Smart, it was produced by Talent Associates and CBS Productions...
(1968) - The Governor & J.J.The Governor & J.J.The Governor & J.J. is a television series that ran from 1969 to 1970 on CBS in the United States and in Canada, where it ran on CBC. Selected episodes were rerun by CBS during the summer of 1972. It was produced by Talent Associates and CBS Productions...
(1969) - McMillan & Wife (1971)
- The Snoop SistersThe Snoop SistersThe Snoop Sisters was an American mystery television show that aired on NBC during the 1973–1974 season.-Plot:The show starred Hollywood film legends Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick as two elderly sisters who routinely stumbled across mysteries which they solved...
(1972) - Diana (1973)
- Phillip and Barbara (1976)
- Holmes and Yo-Yo (1976)
- Lanigan's RabbiLanigan's RabbiLanigan's Rabbi is a short-lived American crime drama series that aired on NBC during the first half of 1977.-Synopsis:Based upon a series of novels by Harry Kemelman, the series starred Art Carney as Police Chief Paul Lanigan, who fights crime in a small California town with the help of his best...
(1977) - Just You and Me, KidJust You and Me, KidJust You and Me, Kid is a 1979 comedy film that stars Brooke Shields, George Burns, Ray Bolger and Burl Ives. It was directed by Leonard Stern. It is rated PG for brief nudity and adult language.-Plot:...
(1979) - Partners in CrimePartners in CrimePartners in Crime may refer to:In literature:* Partners in Crime , a 1985 novel by Rolando Hinojosa* Partners in Crime , a 1929 collection of mystery stories by Agatha ChristieIn music:...
(1984) - Missing PiecesMissing PiecesMissing Pieces is an Australian factual television series that screened on the Nine Network in 2009. It was hosted by Peter Overton.Missing Pieces follows the stories of people who embark on a life-changing journey to find someone special who is missing from their lives. It has a similar premise to...
(1992)
Awards
- Emmy Award, 1957, Best Comedy Writing-variety Or Situation Comedy (The Phil Silvers ShowThe Phil Silvers ShowThe Phil Silvers Show is a comedy television series which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959 for 142 episodes, plus a 1959 special. The series starred Phil Silvers as Master Sergeant Ernest G...
) - Emmy Award, 1967, Outstanding Writing Achievement In Comedy (Get SmartGet SmartGet Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
)
External links
- Leonard Stern interview at Archive of American TelevisionArchive of American TelevisionThe Archive of American Television is a division of the non-profit Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation that films interviews with notable people from all aspects of the television industry....
– July 13, 2000 and August 20, 2008 - Leonard Stern's Find A Grave Memorial