Mickey Rose obit

Mickey Rose, Co-Writer of ‘Bananas,’ Dies at 77

Scribe grew up with Woody Allen and collaborated with him on several films 

He was not on the list.

Mickey Rose, the comedy scribe who  grew up with Woody Allen and went on to write for him, died in Beverly Hills, Calif., of cancer on April 7. He was 77.

Rose nabbed his first professional gig working for ventriloquist Shari Lewis, jotting jokes for her famous hand puppet, Lamb Chop. Rose’s extensive career included writing credits on TV specials and features, including solo projects such as comedies “I Wonder Who’s Killing Her Now” and “Student Bodies,” which he also helmed.

Born Michael Rose in Brooklyn, N.Y. on May 20, 1935, Rose and childhood friend Allan Stewart Konigsberg, a.k.a. Woody Allen, spent their days playing hooky and catching Ingmar Bergman pics. The bond persisted well past school days, as Allen helped launch Rose’s screenwriting career. The duo collaborated on Allen’s early scripts “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?” “Take the Money & Run” and “Bananas,” as well as some of Allen’s TV specials.

Rose’s other TV credits include “The Sid Caesar Show,” “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” “The Dean Martin Comedy Hour,” “The Smothers Brothers” and “Taxi.” He also wrote for Dick Van Dyke and Rodney Dangerfield.

Rose was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Judy, in 2003. He is survived by his son, Quincy, his daughter, Jennifer and two grandchildren.

Donations may be made to ASPCA or the American Cancer Society.

Writer

Johnny Carson in The Johnny Carson Collection, His Favorite Moments from 'the Tonight Show': 1962-1992 (1994)

The Johnny Carson Collection, His Favorite Moments from 'the Tonight Show': 1962-1992

8.6

Video

series writer

1994

 

Marla Gibbs and Jackée Harry in 227 (1985)

227

6.7

TV Series

written by

1988–1989

2 episodes

 

Lydia Cornell, Jim J. Bullock, Nancy Dussault, Ted Knight, and Deborah Van Valkenburgh in Too Close for Comfort (1980)

Too Close for Comfort

6.6

TV Series

written by

1984–1985

3 episodes

 

Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

8.5

TV Series

writer

written by

staff writer ...

1963–1984

982 episodes

 

Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 22nd Anniversary (1984)

Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 22nd Anniversary

8.9

TV Special

writer

1984

 

Ace Crawford... Private Eye (1983)

Ace Crawford... Private Eye

6.4

TV Series

written by

1983

1 episode

 

Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Jeff Conaway, Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman, and Judd Hirsch in Taxi (1978)

Taxi

7.7

TV Series

story editor

1983

1 episode

 

Student Bodies (1981)

Student Bodies

5.4

written by

1981

 

Barbara Carrera and Michael Crawford in Condorman (1981)

Condorman

5.7

Writer (uncredited)

1981

 

Johnny Haymer in Mr. & Mrs. Dracula (1980)

Mr. & Mrs. Dracula

6.5

TV Series

staff writer (1980)

1980

 

Good Time Harry

6.1

TV Series

written by

1980

1 episode

 

Stockard Channing in The Stockard Channing Show (1980)

The Stockard Channing Show

6.8

TV Series

written by

1980

1 episode

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.3

TV Series

written by

1978

1 episode

 

Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith in Charlie's Angels (1976)

Charlie's Angels

6.6

TV Series

written by

1978

1 episode

 

ABC Saturday Comedy Special

7.5

TV Series

writer

1976

1 episode

 

Van Dyke and Company (1976)

Van Dyke and Company

7.6

TV Series

written by

1976

4 episodes

 

The Devil and Sam Silverstein (1976)

The Devil and Sam Silverstein

Writer (uncredited)

1976

 

I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now? (1975)

I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?

3.5

screenplay by

story by

1975

 

The Smothers Brothers Show

7.9

TV Series

Writer

1975

13 episodes

 

Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross, Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Don Most, and Anson Williams in Happy Days (1974)

Happy Days

7.4

TV Series

written by

1974

1 episode

 

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

written by

1971–1974

5 episodes

 

The Hudson Brothers in The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show (1974)

The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show

6.6

TV Series

written by

1974

1 episode

 

Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)

All in the Family

8.4

TV Series

written by

1974

1 episode

 

ABC Comedy News (1973)

ABC Comedy News

7.0

TV Series

written by

1972–1973

2 episodes

 

Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

Writer (segment Love and the Suspicious Husband)

1973

1 episode

 

The Dean Martin Show (1965)

The Dean Martin Show

8.1

TV Series

staff writer

1972–1973

16 episodes

 

Dean Martin Presents Music Country

TV Series

staff writer

1973

1 episode

 

The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters (1972)

The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters

8.8

TV Series

staff writer (1972)

1972–1974

 

The Super

7.5

TV Series

written by

1972

2 episodes

 

Ted Bessell in Me and the Chimp (1972)

Me and the Chimp

3.7

TV Series

written by

1972

1 episode

 

The Funny Side

6.8

TV Series

Writer

1971

1 episode

 

Bananas (1971)

Bananas

6.9

written by

1971

 

Changing Scene IV

TV Special

Writer

1971

 

Changing Scene III

TV Special

Writer

1971

 

Mike Curb Congregation in Changing Scene (1970)

Changing Scene

TV Special

Writer

1970

 

The Tim Conway Show

7.1

TV Series

staff writer

1970

13 episodes

 

Take the Money and Run (1969)

Take the Money and Run

7.2

original screenplay

1969

 

The Kraft Music Hall (1967)

The Kraft Music Hall

6.4

TV Series

written by: Woody Allen's material

1967

1 episode

 

Woody Allen and China Lee in What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966)

What's Up, Tiger Lily?

5.8

with writings by

1966

 

The Sid Caesar Show (1963)

The Sid Caesar Show

6.2

TV Series

writer

1963–1964

13 episodes

 

The Shari Lewis Show (1960)

The Shari Lewis Show

8.1

TV Series

staff writer

1960

1 episode

 

Actor

Take the Money and Run (1969)

Take the Money and Run

7.2

Chain Gang Man (uncredited)

1969

 

Woody Allen and China Lee in What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966)

What's Up, Tiger Lily?

5.8

Vocal Assist (voice)

1966

 

Additional Crew

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

story editor

1973

2 episodes