Chris Bearde obit

Chris Bearde, Writer on ‘Laugh-In’ and Creator of ‘The Gong Show,’ Dies at 80

The Emmy winner also co-wrote the landmark Elvis Presley comeback special for NBC that aired in 1968. 

He was not on the list.

Chris Bearde, who wrote for Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, produced The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and created The Gong Show, has died. He was 80.

Bearde died Sunday morning of a sudden heart attack at his home in Westlake, Calif., his son, Tyler Bearde, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Bearde collected nine Emmy Award nominations and won a writing trophy in 1968 for his work on Laugh-In.

Bearde also co-wrote Elvis Presley’s comeback special for NBC in 1968 and was an executive producer on the 1974-75 ABC sitcom That’s My Mama, one of the first network comedies to feature a predominately black cast

A native of Australia who created two shows for the Canadian network CTV before coming to Hollywood, Bearde also was a producer on other variety shows like The Andy Williams Show, The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show, The Ken Berry ‘Wow’ Show and The Bobby Vinton Show.

He partnered often with Canadian producer Allan Blye and late in his career created the Showtime comedy Sherman Oaks.

Bearde came up with the format for The Gong Show before selling his interest in the 1970s version of the program to producer (and later host of the show) Chuck Barris.

Survivors also include his wife Carolyn; his other children Amanda, Samantha, Ema, Christopher and Sarra; and six grandchildren.

 

Writer

The Gong Show with Dave Attell (2008)

The Gong Show with Dave Attell

4.3

TV Series

format creator

2008

8 episodes

 

Jason Behr, Peter Billingsley, Jeremiah Birkett, Phyllis Katz, Heather Elizabeth Parkhurst, Nick Toth, and Kristoffer Ryan Winters in Sherman Oaks (1995)

Sherman Oaks

7.5

TV Series

creator

1995–1997

7 episodes

 

Totally Animals (1996)

Totally Animals

TV Movie

supervising writer

1996

 

FTV (1985)

FTV

7.7

TV Series

creator

writer

1985

1 episode

 

The Gong Show

TV Movie

devised by

1985

 

Puttin' on the Hits (1984)

Puttin' on the Hits

6.8

TV Series

creator

1985

1 episode

 

Elvis: One Night with You

8.3

TV Special

Writer (uncredited)

1985

 

The Sex and Violence Family Hour (1983)

The Sex and Violence Family Hour

4.4

Video

head writer

writer

1983

 

The 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour (1983)

The 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour

6.5

TV Series

writer

1983

1 episode

 

Instant TV

TV Movie

Writer

1981

 

The Cheap Show

3.6

TV Series

creator

1978

 

The Bob Hope All Star Comedy Special from Australia

TV Special

Writer

1978

 

The Gong Show (1976)

The Gong Show

6.9

TV Series

creator

1976–1978

5 episodes

 

Teresa Brewer in The Bobby Vinton Show (1975)

The Bobby Vinton Show

6.6

TV Series

creator

1975–1977

6 episodes

 

Wacko

8.1

TV Series

creator (1977)

1977

 

Cos (1976)

Cos

3.5

TV Series

Writer

1976

4 episodes

 

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

The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show

6.6

TV Series

writer

1974

16 episodes

 

The Sonny Comedy Revue (1974)

The Sonny Comedy Revue

3.9

TV Series

writer

1974

7 episodes

 

Hamburgers

TV Movie

Writer

1974

 

The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971)

The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour

7.1

TV Series

creator

writer

1971–1974

66 episodes

 

The Barry Crocker Comedy Hour

TV Special

Writer

1973

 

Ken Berry in The Ken Berry 'Wow' Show (1972)

The Ken Berry 'Wow' Show

6.4

TV Series

writer

1972

4 episodes

 

Andy Williams, The Osmonds, Bobby Williams, Dick Williams, and Christian Williams in The Andy Williams Christmas Show (1971)

The Andy Williams Christmas Show

8.5

TV Special

Writer

1971

 

Arnold's Closet Revue

TV Movie

Writer

1971

 

Li'l Abner (1971)

Li'l Abner

8.1

TV Movie

Writer

1971

 

The Andy Williams Show (1969)

The Andy Williams Show

7.9

TV Series

writer

writing supervised by

1969–1971

46 episodes

 

The Ray Stevens Show (1970)

The Ray Stevens Show

7.2

TV Series

creator

1970

3 episodes

 

The Andy Williams Magic Lantern Show Company

TV Special

writer

1969

 

Lucille Ball, Diana Ross, and Dinah Shore in The Dinah Shore Special: Like Hep (1969)

The Dinah Shore Special: Like Hep

7.8

TV Special

written by (as Chris Beard)

1969

 

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

8.0

TV Series

written by

1967–1969

41 episodes

 

Elvis Presley in Elvis: The Comeback Special (1968)

Elvis: The Comeback Special

8.9

TV Special

written by

1968

 

Where the Girls Are

TV Movie

Writer

1968

 

Romp!!!

TV Special

Writer

1968

 

The O'Keefe Centre Presents: The Rock Scene - Like It Is!

8.3

TV Special

Writer

1967

 

Undercurrent

TV Series

created by

writer (creator)

1965–1966

 

Network

TV Series

Writer (1963)

1963

 

Nightcap

6.4

TV Series

creator

writer (1963)

1963–1967

 

Revue '61 (1961)

Revue '61

TV Series

Writer (1961)

1961–1962

 

Producer

FTV

executive producer

ReleasedTV Series

1985

3 episodes

 

Jason Behr, Peter Billingsley, Jeremiah Birkett, Phyllis Katz, Heather Elizabeth Parkhurst, Nick Toth, and Kristoffer Ryan Winters in Sherman Oaks (1995)

Sherman Oaks

7.5

TV Series

executive producer

1995–1997

6 episodes

 

Totally Animals (1996)

Totally Animals

TV Movie

executive producer

1996

 

Night Rap

TV Series

executive producer

1991

1 episode

 

Don Bleu and Marguerite Bonner in The Gong Show (1988)

The Gong Show

6.3

TV Series

executive producer

1988–1989

 

The 44th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1987)

The 44th Annual Golden Globe Awards

4.8

TV Special

executive producer

1987

 

That's My Mama Now!

TV Movie

executive producer

1986

 

FTV (1985)

FTV

7.7

TV Series

executive producer

1985

1 episode

 

Puttin' on the Hits (1984)

Puttin' on the Hits

6.8

TV Series

executive producer

1985

1 episode

 

The Sex and Violence Family Hour (1983)

The Sex and Violence Family Hour

4.4

Video

executive producer

1983

 

The 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour (1983)

The 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour

6.5

TV Series

executive producer

1983

1 episode

 

Instant TV

TV Movie

producer

1981

 

The Cheap Show

3.6

TV Series

executive producer (1978)

1978

 

The Bob Hope All Star Comedy Special from Australia

TV Special

producer

1978

 

The Gong Show (1976)

The Gong Show

6.9

TV Series

executive producer

1976–1978

6 episodes

 

Teresa Brewer in The Bobby Vinton Show (1975)

The Bobby Vinton Show

6.6

TV Series

executive producer

1975–1977

61 episodes

 

Wacko

8.1

TV Series

executive producer (1977)

1977

 

Cos (1976)

Cos

3.5

TV Series

producer

1976

4 episodes

 

Clifton Davis, Ted Lange, Theresa Merritt, Lynne Moody, and Teddy Wilson in That's My Mama (1974)

That's My Mama

7.0

TV Series

executive producer

1974–1975

26 episodes

 

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

The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show

6.6

TV Series

executive producer

1974

16 episodes

 

The Sonny Comedy Revue (1974)

The Sonny Comedy Revue

3.9

TV Series

producer

1974

7 episodes

 

Hamburgers

TV Movie

co-producer

producer

1974

 

The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971)

The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour

7.1

TV Series

producer

1971–1974

64 episodes

 

The Barry Crocker Comedy Hour

TV Special

producer

1973

 

Ken Berry in The Ken Berry 'Wow' Show (1972)

The Ken Berry 'Wow' Show

6.4

TV Series

producer

1972

4 episodes

 

Andy Williams, The Osmonds, Bobby Williams, Dick Williams, and Christian Williams in The Andy Williams Christmas Show (1971)

The Andy Williams Christmas Show

8.5

TV Special

producer

1971

 

Li'l Abner (1971)

Li'l Abner

8.1

TV Movie

producer

1971

 

The Andy Williams Show (1969)

The Andy Williams Show

7.9

TV Series

producer

1969–1971

46 episodes

 

The Ray Stevens Show (1970)

The Ray Stevens Show

7.2

TV Series

executive producer

1970

1 episode

 

The Andy Williams Magic Lantern Show Company

TV Special

producer

1969

 

Undercurrent

TV Series

executive producer

1965–1966

 

Music Department

Clifton Davis, Ted Lange, Theresa Merritt, Lynne Moody, and Teddy Wilson in That's My Mama (1974)

That's My Mama

7.0

TV Series

composer: title song

1974–1975

26 episodes