Leonard Bernard Stern (December 23, 1922 – June 7, 2011) was an American

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

, film and television producer, director, and one of the creators, with Roger Price, of the word game Mad Libs.Penguin Group website
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Life and career

Stern was born in New York City and studied at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then- Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, th ...

. Stern was a successful television writer who wrote for such now classic series such as ''

The Honeymooners ''The Honeymooners'' is an American television sitcom which originally aired from 1955 to 1956, created by and starring Jackie Gleason, and based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that had been part of Gleason's variety show. It fo ...

'', ''

The Phil Silvers Show ''The Phil Silvers Show'', originally titled ''You'll Never Get Rich'', is a sitcom which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959. A pilot titled "Audition Show" was made in 1955, but it was never broadcast. 143 other episodes were broadcast – all half-a ...

'', ''

The Steve Allen Show ''The Steve Allen Show'' was an American variety show hosted by Steve Allen from June 1956 to June 1960 on NBC, from September 1961 to December 1961 on ABC,

'', ''

Tonight Starring Steve Allen ''Tonight Starring Steve Allen'' is an American talk show hosted by Steve Allen. It was the first version of what eventually became known as ''The Tonight Show''. ''Tonight'' was the first late-night talk show, as well as the first late night tel ...

'' and ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s, with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, an ...

'' (a program on which he served as executive producer). Stern created the signature opening door credits for ''Get Smart''. Stern was also a writer for the 1952

Danny Thomas Danny Thomas (born Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz; January 6, 1912 – February 6, 1991) was an American actor, singer, nightclub comedian, producer, and philanthropist. He created and starred in one of the most successful and long-running sitc ...

and

Peggy Lee Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress, over a career spanning seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalis ...

version of ''

The Jazz Singer ''The Jazz Singer'' is a 1927 American musical drama film directed by Alan Crosland. It is the first feature-length motion picture with both synchronized recorded music score as well as lip-synchronous singing and speech (in several isolate ...

'' and a few

Abbott and Costello Abbott may refer to: People * Abbott (surname) *Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921), American painter and naturalist * Abbott and Costello, famous American vaudeville act Places Argentina * Abbott, Buenos Aires United States * Abbott, Arkansas ...

films (with Martin Ragaway), among others. In the 1970s, he produced and directed the TV series ''

McMillan & Wife ''McMillan & Wife'' (known simply as ''McMillan'' from 1976–77) is an American police procedural television 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 ...

'', which starred

Rock Hudson Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor. One of the most popular movie stars of his time, he had a screen career spanning more than three decades. A prominent heartthrob in the Gold ...

and

Susan Saint James Susan Saint James (born Susan Jane Miller; August 14, 1946) is an American actress and activist, most widely known for her work in television during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, especially the detective series ''McMillan & Wife'' (1971–1976) and ...

. Stern was the senior vice president of Price Stern Sloan (PSS). In 2000, after Price's death, Stern and another partner,

Larry Sloan Lloyd Lawrence "Larry" Sloan (1922 – October 14, 2012) was an American publisher of Mad Libs and co-founder of the Los Angeles publishing company, Price Stern Sloan, which opened in the early 1960s. Biography Sloan was born Lloyd Lawrence Solom ...

, launched another publishing company, Tallfellow Press, and acquired the rights to

Droodles ''Droodles'' was a syndicated cartoon feature created by Roger Price and collected in his 1953 book ''Droodles'', though the term is now used more generally of similar visual riddles. Form The general form is minimal: a square box containing a ...

. Stern co-wrote, with Diane L. Robison, ''A Martian Wouldn't Say That'' (2000), a compilation of actual memos and notes from television executives. Early in his career, when he wanted to write feature films on his own, he had trouble finding work. When he finally got the assignment for ''

Let's Go Navy! ''Let's Go Navy!'' is a 1951 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on July 29, 1951 by Monogram Pictures and is the twenty-third film in the series. Plot A local charity has raised sixteen hundred dollars and entrusted the ...

'' he adopted the pseudonym "Max Adams" because he "wasn't particularly proud of doing a Bowery Boys

ilm Ilm or ILM may refer to: Acronyms * Identity Lifecycle Manager, a Microsoft Server Product * '' I Love Money,'' a TV show on VH1 * Independent Loading Mechanism, a mounting system for CPU sockets * Industrial Light & Magic, an American motion ...

Personal life

Stern was married twice. His first marriage was in 1951 to actress

Julie Adams Julie Adams (born Betty May Adams; October 17, 1926 – February 3, 2019) was an American actress, billed as Julia Adams toward the beginning of her career, primarily known for her numerous television guest roles. She starred in a number of ...

. The marriage ended in divorce two years later in 1953. In 1956, Stern married actress

Gloria Stroock Gloria Jane Stroock is an American actress. She is best known for her supporting role in the television series ''McMillan & Wife'' as Maggie, the secretary of lead character Stewart McMillan. Early years Stroock is the daughter of James Stroock, ...

, to whom he remained married until his death. The couple had two children, Kate and Michael.Obituary for Leonard B. Stern
foxnews.com; accessed August 22, 2014.

Death

On June 7, 2011, Stern died of heart failure at his home in

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...

, aged 88. He was survived by his wife of 55 years, actress

, as well as a son, daughter, two grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. Funeral services were held at

Mount Sinai Memorial Park Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery is the largest Jewish cemetery organization in California. History Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries, owned by Sinai Temple of Los Angeles, refers to two Jewish cemeteries in the Los Angeles metropo ...

Selected film and television credits

;Producer *''

I'm Dickens, He's Fenster ''I'm Dickens, He's Fenster'' is an American sitcom starring John Astin and Marty Ingels that ran on ABC from September 28, 1962 to May 10, 1963. The series was created and produced by Leonard Stern and filmed at Desilu. Synopsis The series s ...

'' (1962–1963) *''

Supermarket Sweep ''Supermarket Sweep'' is an American television game show. The format combines an ordinary team-based quiz show with the novel concept of a live, timed race through a supermarket. In the timed race, cameras follow the teams with shopping carts t ...

'' (1965) *''

'' (1965–1968) *''

Run, Buddy, Run ''Run, Buddy, Run'' was an American comedy TV series that aired on CBS for one season of 16 episodes in 1966-1967. The series was created by Leonard B. Stern, and starred jazz trumpeter, singer, and actor Jack Sheldon. Description At a steambat ...

'' (1966) *''

The Hero The Hero may refer to: Books * "The Hero" (poem), a poem written by Rabindranath Tagore * ''The Hero'' (novel), a science fiction novel by John Ringo and Michael Z. Williamson * '' The Hero: A Study in Tradition, Myth and Drama'', a book by Fi ...

'' (1966–1967) *''

He & She ''He & She'' is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network as part of its 1967–1968 lineup, originally sponsored by General Foods and Lever Brothers. ''He & She'' is widely considered by broadcast historians to have bee ...

'' (1967–1968) *'' The Good Guys'' (1968–1970) *'' The Governor & J.J.'' (1969–1970) *''

'' (1971–1976) *''

The Snoop Sisters ''The Snoop Sisters'' is an American comedy-mystery television show that aired on NBC during the 1973–1974 season, airing on a monthly rotation (referred to as a "wheel") as part of the '' NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie'', sharing the timeslot with ...

'' (1972–1974) *''

Faraday & Company ''Faraday & Company'' is an American 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 fro ...

'' (1973) *'' Holmes & Yoyo'' (1976–1977) *''

Lanigan's Rabbi ''Lanigan's Rabbi'' is an American crime drama series that aired on NBC from January 30 to April 24, 1977. Synopsis Based upon a series of novels by Harry Kemelman, the series stars Art Carney as Police Chief Paul Lanigan, who fights crime in ...

'' (1976) *'' Rosetti and Ryan'' (1977) *''

Operation Petticoat ''Operation Petticoat'' is a 1959 American World War II submarine comedy film in Eastmancolor from Universal-International, produced by Robert Arthur, directed by Blake Edwards, that stars Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. The film tells in fla ...

'' (1977–1978) *'' Partners in Crime'' (1984) *''

Get Smart, Again! ''Get Smart, Again!'' is a 1989 American made-for-television comedy film based on the 1965–1970 NBC/ CBS sitcom ''Get Smart!'' starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon reprising their characters of Maxwell Smart and Agent 99. It originally aired ...

'' (1989) *'' Missing Pieces (film)'' (1992) ;Writer *''

Africa Screams ''Africa Screams'' is a 1949 American adventure comedy film directed by Charles Barton and starring Abbott and Costello that parodies the safari genre. The title is a play on the title of the 1930 documentary ''Africa Speaks!'' The supporting ...

'' (1949) uncredited, with Martin Ragaway *''

Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town ''Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont. It is the second installment of Universal-International's ''Ma and Pa Kettle'' series starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. Plot At the conclusion of ...

'' (1950) with Martin Ragaway *''

Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion ''Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion'' is a black and white 1950 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It is set in the French Sahara with the heroes having joined the Frenc ...

'' (1950) with Martin Ragaway *''

The Milkman ''The Milkman'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton and starring Donald O'Connor, Jimmy Durante and Piper Laurie. Plot Roger Bradley is denied a milkman job at his father's company because of his postwar trauma; when he ...

'' (1952) with Martin Ragaway *''

Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair ''Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair'' is a 1952 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton. It is the fourth installment of Universal-International's ''Ma and Pa Kettle'' series starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. Plot Ma and Pa Kettl ...

'' (1952) with Martin Ragaway *''

Lost in Alaska ''Lost in Alaska'' is a 1952 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. 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 dr ...

'' (1952) with Martin Ragaway *''

'' (1952) *'' Three for the Show'' (1955) *''

The Steve Allen Show ''The Steve Allen Show'' was an American variety show hosted by Steve Allen from June 1956 to June 1960 on NBC, from September 1961 to December 1961 on ABC,

'' (1956–1960) *''

'' (1955–1956) *''

'' (1956) *''

The Jackie Gleason Show ''The Jackie Gleason Show'' is the name of a series of American network television shows that starred Jackie Gleason, which ran from 1952 to 1970, in various forms. ''Cavalcade of Stars'' Gleason's first variety series, which aired on the DuMon ...

'' (1953–1956) *'' The Good Guys'' (1968) ;Director *''

'' (1962–1963) *''

'' (1966) *''

'' (1967) *'' The Good Guys'' (1968) *'' The Governor & J.J.'' (1969) *''

'' (1971) *''

'' (1972) *'' Holmes & Yoyo'' (1976) *''

'' (1977) *''

Just You and Me, Kid ''Just You and Me, Kid'' is a 1979 American comedy film starring George Burns, Brooke Shields, Lorraine Gary, Ray Bolger, Leon Ames, Carl Ballantine, Keye Luke and Burl Ives. It was directed by Leonard B. Stern and was released in July 1979 by ...

'' (1979) *'' Partners in Crime'' (1984) *'' Missing Pieces'' (1992)

Awards

* Emmy Award, 1957, Best Comedy Writing-variety Or Situation Comedy (''

'') * Emmy Award, 1967, Outstanding Writing Achievement In Comedy (''

'')

References

External links

*
Leonard Stern interview
at

Archive of American Television The Interviews: An Oral History of Television (formerly titled the Archive of American Television) is a project of the nonprofit Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, that records interviews with notable ...

– July 13, 2000 and August 20, 2008 {{DEFAULTSORT:Stern, Leonard B. 1922 births 2011 deaths Writers from New York City American publishers (people) American television directors Television producers from New York City American television writers Jewish American screenwriters American male television writers Emmy Award winners Screenwriters from New York (state) 21st-century American Jews