Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Larry Gelbart, Writer on MASH, Tootsie, Dies at 81

Cancer takes man nominated for Oscars, Tonys and Emmys

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 11, 2009 6:40 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Larry Gelbart, one of the writers who developed the hit TV series MASH and who scored nominations for Oscar, Tony and Emmy awards, died this morning of cancer at age 81, his wife tells the Los Angeles Times. Actor Jack Lemmon once described Gelbart “as one of the greatest writers of comedy to have graced the arts in this century.”

Gelbart began writing for radio at age 16, then moved on to television, Broadway and the silver screen. He was twice nominated for Oscars, for best screenplay for 1977’s Oh, God! and for screenwriting for 1982’s Tootsie. But MASH, which debuted on CBS in 1972, was his crowning achievement, one on which his influence was “seminal, basic and enormous,” a former colleague says.

Writer Larry Gelbart is seen in a 1991 photo.
Writer Larry Gelbart is seen in a 1991 photo.   (AP Photo)
This 2008 file photo shows comedy writer and playwright Larry Gelbart.
This 2008 file photo shows comedy writer and playwright Larry Gelbart.   (AP Photo)
Larry Gelbart is seen in a 1998 photo.
Larry Gelbart is seen in a 1998 photo.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Robert_Dada
Sep 12, 2009 12:10 PM CDT
Thank you Larry, for one of television's finest hours.
brawne
Sep 12, 2009 6:50 AM CDT
"Suicide is painless. It brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I tried." Helicopter swoops up and over with Larry who gave so much pleasure. You just can't beat giving more than you ever took.
youngblood
Sep 12, 2009 4:21 AM CDT
Thanks for all the laughs Larry!

 
cancer • entertainment • Hollywood • Broadway • Larry Gelbart • Oscar nomination • Emmy nomination • Tony nomination • MASH • Tootsie • Jack Lemmon

More Newser Stories

Tony Awards Snub Hollywood
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne