Dick Van Dyke Show and Tracey Ullman Show writer dead at 68

Jerry Belson, an Emmy-winning comedy writer, died of cancer at his Los Angeles home on Tuesday. Belson began his career as a magician, comic book writer, and drummer, before selling his first script to The Danny Thomas Show at age 22. The Thomas script led to work writing for The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gomer Pyle, I Spy, The Odd Couple, and Tracey Takes On. Belson's producing and directing credits included The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, and The Drew Carey Show. Screenplay credits included the original Fun with Dick and Jane, The End, and Smokey and the Bandit II. Former writing partner Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman, Laverne & Shirley, et al.) said Belson "added dark, wild thoughts and lines," inserting bon mots he thought were funny even if only a few in the audience would understand or appreciate them. Belson was 68.

Sources: Yahoo News, IMDB, The Museum of Broadcast Communications