Bernard M. Kahn (April 26, 1930 – April 21, 2021) was an American

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

Education

He received bachelor's and master's degrees in English literature from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

. At the 1953 Maccabiah Games in Israel, in swimming he won a gold medal in the 100 m backstroke.

Screenwriting career

He wrote for the

sitcom A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...

s '' The Second Hundred Years'', ''

My Favorite Martian ''My Favorite Martian'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963, to May 1, 1966, for 107 episodes. The show stars Ray Walston as "Uncle Martin" (the Martian) and Bill Bixby as Tim O'Hara. ''My Favorite Martian'' was th ...

'', and ''

Bewitched ''Bewitched'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series that originally aired for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964, to March 25, 1972. It is about a witch who marries an ordinary mortal man and vows to lead the life of a typi ...

,'' among others. Kahn also co-wrote the 1971

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

television movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

The Barefoot Executive ''The Barefoot Executive'' (also known as ''The Rating Game'') is a 1971 American comedy film starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn (American actor), Joe Flynn, Wally Cox, Heather North, Harry Morgan and John Ritter (in his film debut). The plot conce ...

'' with Joseph McEveety,

Lila Garrett Lila Garrett (November 21, 1925 – February 1, 2020) was an American television screenwriter and radio host who wrote for the sitcoms '' The Second Hundred Years'' (she co-wrote episodes 10 and 13 with Bernie Kahn), ''My Favorite Martian'', ''A ...

and Stu Billett, and wrote the screenplay for the 1985 comedy film ''

Basic Training Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique dema ...

.'' In 1972, his play ''Our Very Own Hole in the Ground'' was produced at

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (sometimes abbreviated as La MaMa E.T.C.) is an Off-Off-Broadway theater founded in 1961 by African-American theatre director, producer, and fashion designer Ellen Stewart. Located in the East Village neighborho ...

in the

East Village, Manhattan The East Village is a neighborhood on the East Side (Manhattan), East Side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, New York. It is roughly defined as the area east of the Bowery and Third Avenue, between 14th Street (Manhattan), 14th Street on the ...

, directed by Henry Hewes.La MaMa Archives Digital Collections
"Production: ''Our Very Own Hole in the Ground'' (1972)". Accessed May 9, 2018.
/ref> Kahn received the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Comedy multiple times during the 1970s.

Selected works

*'' The Smothers Brothers Show'' *''

Occasional Wife ''Occasional Wife'' is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 13, 1966 until August 29, 1967. Plot Peter Christopher is a New York bachelor who enjoys the single life but is blocked in his professional advancement without a wife. ...

'' (1966 television series) * ''Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'' (TV series) * ''The Practice'' (1976 television series) *''

The Paul Lynde Show ''The Paul Lynde Show'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC. The series starred comedian Paul Lynde and aired for one season, with original episodes airing from September 13, 1972, to March 14, 1973. Setting The series starred Ly ...

'' * ''Brothers and Sisters'' (1979 TV series) * List of ''Bewitched'' episodes * List of ''The Brady Bunch'' episodes * List of ''Chico and the Man'' episodes * List of ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'' episodes * List of ''Maude'' episodes * List of ''The Partridge Family'' episodes * List of ''Superboy'' episodes * List of ''Three's Company'' episodes

References

External links

*
Bernie Kahn on Rotten TomatoesBernie Kahn on TV.comKahn's page on La MaMa Archives Digital Collections
1930 births 2021 deaths Writers from Brooklyn Screenwriters from New York City American male screenwriters University of Michigan alumni Maccabiah Games gold medalists for the United States Competitors at the 1953 Maccabiah Games Maccabiah Games medalists in swimming {{US-screen-writer-1930s-stub