Thomas L. Miller obit

Thomas L. Miller, Legendary Producer of ‘Family Matters’ and ‘Full House,’ Dies at 79

Thomas L. Miller, the legendary producer behind ABC's "TGIF" comedies 'Family Matters,' 'Full House,' 'Perfect Strangers' and 'Step by Step,' has died of complications from heart disease. He was 79. 

He was not on the list.

Thomas L. Miller, the legendary television producer behind such iconic sitcoms as Happy Days, Family Matters, Full House, Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley, Perfect Strangers and Step by Step, has died. He was 79.

Miller died Sunday in Salisbury, Connecticut, of complications from heart disease, his family and Robert L. Boyett, his partner of 40 years, announced. A private burial will take place in his hometown of Milwaukee.

In a career that spanned seven decades, Miller co-founded the TV production companies Miller/Boyett Productions, Miller/Boyett/Warren Productions and Miller-Milkis Productions, which were respectively behind some of the most loved and highest-rated shows of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.

His series typically did not win Emmys, but that didn’t bother Miller, he said in a 1990 interview with the Los Angeles Times.

“Our award is that 30 million people are watching,” he said. “To me, the goal is to entertain. And if you’re doing an 8 o’clock show, that means you also try to make them intelligent, you have them tell a story that has not a preachy moral necessarily, but something there so that it’s not a bad thing if you watch it. The fact that those [shows] don’t win awards means nothing to me if we continue to please that many people.”

On Twitter, Happy Days stars Ron Howard and Henry Winkler paid tribute to Miller. Howard called him “kind, smart and witty” and a believer in his ability to one day make movies, while Winkler wrote that the executive “gave me, along with his partners, my Hollywood life.”

Born on Aug. 31, 1940, Miller attended Nicolet High School in Glendale, Wisconsin, before graduating from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a liberal arts degree in 1962.

A lifelong fan of film and television, he moved to Los Angeles to work in the entertainment industry and got his start in Hollywood working for his idol, Billy Wilder. The filmmaker hired Miller as a dialogue coach, and their four years together included work on the classic films Irma la Douce (1963) and The Fortune Cookie (1966).

Miller said he learned a great deal from Wilder, and the Oscar-winning director continued to be a huge creative influence on him for the rest of his career. The two remained friends up to Wilder’s death in 2002.

Miller’s career in television began as assistant to William Self at 20th Century Fox, where they co-created the ABC comedy Nanny and the Professor. He then moved to Paramount Studios to become vp development, where he oversaw comedy and drama series programming and original television movies. In his time at Paramount, Miller developed shows such as The Odd Couple and Love, American Style, as well as nearly 20 telefilms.

He left a promising career as a TV executive to establish himself as a producer. Miller co-founded his first production company with partner Edward K. Milkis in 1969 with a deal set up at Paramount. For ABC, Miller-Milkis Productions developed, along with Garry Marshall, the comedies Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mork and Mindy and Joanie Loves Chachi, among several others. The company also produced the legal drama series Petrocelli for NBC. Miller-Milkis also produced the hit comedy features Silver Streak (1976) and Foul Play (1978).

In 1979, Miller and Boyett formed Miller/Boyett Productions and began a 40-year partnership. The pair co-created the comedy series Bosom Buddies and Angie. In the mid-’80s, the company secured a deal with Lorimar Television and produced a slew of family-friendly sitcoms including The Hogan Family, Full House and Perfect Strangers. They also produced the Burt Reynolds-Dolly Parton musical film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) for Universal.

Miller/Boyett partnered with producers William Bickley and Michael Warren to develop many of the shows that underpinned ABC’s hugely successful “TGIF” Friday comedy lineup in the ’80s. The four were behind such ratings hits as Full House (with Jeff Franklin), Perfect Strangers (starring Bronson Pinchot and Mark-Linn Baker) and its spinoff series Family Matters, Step by Step and many more.  

In 1996, Miller and Boyett formally joined forces with Warren to create Miller/Boyett/Warren Productions, which produced the final seasons of Family Matters and Step by Step and developed the comedy Meego for CBS. In 1998, Miller and his partners developed their final original series, ABC’s Two of a Kind, which starred Full House breakout stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.  

Taking a break from television, Miller moved to New York in 2000 and began working in theater production with Boyett. He won a Tony Award in 2011 for best play for War Horse and was nominated in the same category in 2019 for Tootsie. His other Broadway credits included Hillary and Clinton, 13, the upcoming Mrs. Doubtfire and the revival of Company.

After nearly two decades, Miller/Boyett returned to television to serve as the production company of Netflix’s Fuller House. The Full House sequel ran for five seasons through this year. 

In a statement, Warner Bros. Television Group said Miller “was born to entertain, infused with irrepressible passion and love for bringing joy to others through his life’s work. And what a skill set he possessed. He was at once a thoughtful and tasteful executive, an extremely talented writer and a highly successful producer whose many hit series will live long in the collective memory of fans around the world. Everyone at Warner Bros. Television Group and the Fuller House family will miss him deeply.”

 

Producer (36 credits)

 2016-2020 Fuller House (TV Series) (executive producer - 75 episodes)

- Our Very Last Show, Again (2020) ... (executive producer)

- Something Borrowed (2020) ... (executive producer)

- The Nearlywed Game (2020) ... (executive producer)

- Be Yourself, Free Yourself (2020) ... (executive producer)

- Basic Training (2020) ... (executive producer)

 

 1986-2006 Perfect Strangers (TV Series) (executive producer - 151 episodes)

- Unaired Pilot (2006) ... (executive producer)

- Up, Up and Away: Part 1 (1993) ... (executive producer)

- Up, Up and Away: Part 2 (1993) ... (executive producer)

- The Baby Quiz (1993) ... (executive producer)

- Lethal Weapon (1993) ... (executive producer)

 

 1998-1999Two of a Kind (TV Series) (executive producer - 22 episodes)

- Kevin Burke's Day Off (1999) ... (executive producer)

- The Goodbye Girl (1999) ... (executive producer)

- When a Man Leaves a Woman (1999) ... (executive producer)

- The Odd Couples (1999) ... (executive producer)

- Welcome Matt (1999) ... (executive producer)

 

 1989-1998 Family Matters (TV Series) (executive producer - 215 episodes)

- Lost in Space: Part 2 (1998) ... (executive producer)

- Lost in Space: Part 1 (1998) ... (executive producer)

- Pop Goes the Question (1998) ... (executive producer)

- Don't Make Me Over (1998) ... (executive producer)

- Throw Urkel from the Train (1998) ... (executive producer)

 

 1991-1998 Step by Step (TV Series) (executive producer - 160 episodes)

- Movin' on Up (1998) ... (executive producer)

- We're in the Money (1998) ... (executive producer)

- The Understudy (1998) ... (executive producer)

- And Justice for Some (1998) ... (executive producer)

- The Half Monty (1998) ... (executive producer)

 

 1997 Girls Across the Lake (TV Series) (executive producer)

 1997 Meego (TV Series) (executive producer - 13 episodes)

- Saturday Night Fever (1997) ... (executive producer)

- Performance Art (1997) ... (executive producer)

- Mommy 'n' Meego (1997) ... (executive producer)

- Magic Parker (1997) ... (executive producer)

- Liar, Liar (1997) ... (executive producer)

 

 1987-1995 Full House (TV Series) (executive producer - 192 episodes)

- Michelle Rides Again: Part 2 (1995) ... (executive producer)

- Michelle Rides Again: Part 1 (1995) ... (executive producer)

- All Stood Up (1995) ... (executive producer)

- Leap of Faith (1995) ... (executive producer)

- Up on the Roof (1995) ... (executive producer)

 

 1994-1995 On Our Own (TV Series) (executive producer - 20 episodes)

- The Tonsil Tale (1995) ... (executive producer)

- The Easy Way (1995) ... (executive producer)

- Little Rascals (1995) ... (executive producer)

- Girl Talk (1995) ... (executive producer)

- He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (1995) ... (executive producer)

 

 1993-1994 Getting by (TV Series) (executive producer - 31 episodes)

- My Brilliant Career (1994) ... (executive producer)

- Just Say No (1994) ... (executive producer)

- Teacher's Pest (1994) ... (executive producer)

- Three Days of the Condo (1994) ... (executive producer)

- The Rich Guy (1994) ... (executive producer)

 

 1990-1991 The Family Man (TV Series) (executive producer - 22 episodes)

- Take My Dad, Please (1991) ... (executive producer)

- The Boss's Daughter (1991) ... (executive producer)

- Father Figure (1991) ... (executive producer)

- Throw Momma from the House (1991) ... (executive producer)

- A Tiny Advantage (1991) ... (executive producer)

 

 1986-1991 Valerie (TV Series) (executive producer - 110 episodes)

- Isn't It Romantic? (1991) ... (executive producer)

- Ho, Ho, Hogans (1991) ... (executive producer)

- A Family Affair (1991) ... (executive producer)

- A Sneaking Suspicion (1991) ... (executive producer)

- The Best of Friends, Worst of Times (1990) ... (executive producer)

 

 1990-1991 Going Places (TV Series) (executive producer - 19 episodes)

- The Camping Show (1991) ... (executive producer)

- Mommy Dearest (1991) ... (executive producer)

- Take My Girlfriend, Please (1991) ... (executive producer)

- Don't Go Changing (1991) ... (executive producer)

- Room to Move (1991) ... (executive producer)

 

 1974-1984 Happy Days (TV Series) (executive producer - 255 episodes)

- Fonzie's Spots (1984) ... (executive producer)

- Good News, Bad News (1984) ... (executive producer)

- School Dazed (1984) ... (executive producer)

- Low Notes (1984) ... (executive producer)

- So How Was Your Weekend? (1984) ... (executive producer)

 

 1982-1983 Joanie Loves Chachi (TV Series) (executive producer - 17 episodes)

- The Elopement (1983) ... (executive producer)

- First Love, Last Love (1983) ... (executive producer)

- Christmas Show (1982) ... (executive producer)

- My Dinner with Chachi (1982) ... (executive producer)

- Term Paper (1982) ... (executive producer)

 

 1976-1983 Laverne & Shirley (TV Series) (executive producer - 178 episodes)

- Here Today, Hair Tomorrow (1983) ... (executive producer)

- Councilman DeFazio (1983) ... (executive producer)

- Do the Carmine (1983) ... (executive producer)

- How's Your Sister? (1983) ... (executive producer)

- Please Don't Feed the Buzzards (1983) ... (executive producer)

 

 1982 Little Darlings (TV Movie) (executive producer)

 1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (producer)

 1980-1982 Bosom Buddies (TV Series) (executive producer - 37 episodes)

- Not the Last Picture Show (1982) ... (executive producer)

- Not with My Sister, You Pig (1982) ... (executive producer)

- Who's on Thirst? (1982) ... (executive producer)

- The Way Kip and Henry Were (1982) ... (executive producer)

- Hildy's Dirt Nap (1982) ... (executive producer)

 

 1981 Foul Play (TV Series) (supervising producer - 1 episode)

- The Big Bang (1981) ... (supervising producer)

 1980 Goodtime Girls (TV Series) (executive producer - 13 episodes)

- All for One (1980) ... (executive producer)

- Sing Till It Hurts (1980) ... (executive producer)

- Who's Benny? (1980) ... (executive producer)

- The Show Must Go On (1980) ... (executive producer)

- Internal Injury (1980) ... (executive producer)

 

 1979-1980 Angie (TV Series) (supervising producer - 36 episodes)

- Angie and Joyce Go to Jail (1980) ... (supervising producer)

- Angie and the Doctor (1980) ... (supervising producer)

- Friends in Need (1980) ... (supervising producer)

- The Kid Down the Block (1980) ... (supervising producer)

- The President's Coming, the President's Coming (1980) ... (supervising producer)

 

 1979 Out of the Blue (TV Series) (supervising producer - 1 episode)

- Random's Arrival (1979) ... (supervising producer)

 1979S weepstakes (TV Series) (executive producer - 9 episodes)

- Cowboy, Linda and Angie, Mark (1979) ... (executive producer)

- Episode #1.8 (1979) ... (executive producer)

- Episode #1.7 (1979) ... (executive producer)

- Roscoe, Elizabeth, and the M.C. (1979) ... (executive producer)

- Episode #1.5 (1979) ... (executive producer)

 

 1979 Makin' It (TV Series) (executive producer - 1 episode)

- Stayin' Alive (1979) ... (executive producer)

 1978 Foul Play (producer)

 1977 Blansky's Beauties (TV Series) (executive producer - 13 episodes)

- Nancy Breaks a Leg (1977) ... (executive producer)

- My Nephew's Debut (1977) ... (executive producer)

- Dear Nancy (1977) ... (executive producer)

- To Nancy with Love (1977) ... (executive producer)

- Nancy Meets Pa Bates (1977) ... (executive producer)

 

 1977 Walkin' Walter (TV Series) (executive producer)

 1974-1976 Petrocelli (TV Series) (executive producer - 44 episodes)

- Shadow of a Doubt (1976) ... (executive producer)

- Jubilee Jones (1976) ... (executive producer)

- The Pay Off (1976) ... (executive producer)

- Deadly Journey (1976) ... (executive producer)

- Six Strings of Guilt (1976) ... (executive producer)

 

 1976 Silver Streak (producer)

 1974 Night Games (TV Movie) (producer)

 1973 Egan (TV Movie) (producer - as Tom Miller)

 1973 The Devil's Daughter (TV Movie) (producer)

 1972 The Weekend Nun (TV Movie) (producer)

 1972 The Heist (TV Movie) (producer)

 1972 Night of Terror (TV Movie) (producer - produced by)

 

Writer (14 credits)

 1998-1999 Two of a Kind (TV Series) (developed by - 22 episodes)

- Kevin Burke's Day Off (1999) ... (creator)

- The Goodbye Girl (1999) ... (creator)

- When a Man Leaves a Woman (1999) ... (creator)

- The Odd Couples (1999) ... (creator)

- Welcome Matt (1999) ... (creator)

 

 1989-1998 Family Matters (TV Series) (developed by - 215 episodes)

- Lost in Space: Part 2 (1998) ... (creator)

- Lost in Space: Part 1 (1998) ... (creator)

- Pop Goes the Question (1998) ... (creator)

- Don't Make Me Over (1998) ... (creator)

- Throw Urkel from the Train (1998) ... (creator)

 

 1991-1998 Step by Step (TV Series) (developed by - 160 episodes)

- Movin' on Up (1998) ... (creator)

- We're in the Money (1998) ... (creator)

- The Understudy (1998) ... (creator)

- And Justice for Some (1998) ... (creator)

- The Half Monty (1998) ... (creator)

 

 1997 Meego (TV Series) (developed by - 2 episodes)

- Love and Money (1997) ... (creator)

- Pilot (1997) ... (creator)

 

1993-1994 Getting by (TV Series) (developed by - 31 episodes)

- My Brilliant Career (1994) ... (creator)

- Just Say No (1994) ... (creator)

- Teacher's Pest (1994) ... (creator)

- Three Days of the Condo (1994) ... (creator)

- The Rich Guy (1994) ... (creator)

 

 1990-1991 Going Places (TV Series) (developed by - 19 episodes)

- The Camping Show (1991) ... (creator)

- Mommy Dearest (1991) ... (creator)

- Take My Girlfriend, Please (1991) ... (creator)

- Don't Go Changing (1991) ... (creator)

- Room to Move (1991) ... (creator)

 

 1980-1982 Bosom Buddies (TV Series) (creator - 32 episodes)

- Not the Last Picture Show (1982) ... (creator)

- Not with My Sister, You Pig (1982) ... (creator)

- Who's on Thirst? (1982) ... (creator)

- The Way Kip and Henry Were (1982) ... (creator)

- Hildy's Dirt Nap (1982) ... (creator)

 

 1980 Goodtime Girls (TV Series) (creator - 13 episodes)

- All for One (1980) ... (creator)

- Sing Till It Hurts (1980) ... (creator)

- Who's Benny? (1980) ... (creator)

- The Show Must Go On (1980) ... (creator)

- Internal Injury (1980) ... (creator)

 

 1979 Out of the Blue (TV Series) (created by - 12 episodes)

- Double Jeopardy (1979) ... (creator)

- The Coin of Truth (1979) ... (creator)

- Stacey's Nightmare (1979) ... (creator)

- Out for the Season (1979) ... (creator)

- Laura, the Runaway (1979) ... (creator)

 

 1979 Sweepstakes (TV Series) (creator - 9 episodes)

- Cowboy, Linda and Angie, Mark (1979) ... (creator)

- Episode #1.8 (1979) ... (creator)

- Episode #1.7 (1979) ... (creator)

- Roscoe, Elizabeth, and the M.C. (1979) ... (creator)

- Episode #1.5 (1979) ... (creator)

 

 1975 Petrocelli (TV Series) (written by - 3 episodes)

- Face of Evil (1975) ... (written by)

- To See No Evil (1975) ... (written by)

- The Outsiders (1975) ... (written by)

 1972 Me and the Chimp (TV Series) (created by - 13 episodes)

- Liz's Allergy (1972) ... (creator)

- Hoop-Lah (1972) ... (creator)

- Mike's Night-In (1972) ... (creator)

- The Ghost Town (1972) ... (creator)

- The Paint Job (1972) ... (creator)

 

 1970-1971 Nanny and the Professor (TV Series) (creator - 54 episodes)

- Whatever Happened to Felicity? (1971) ... (creator)

- Good-bye, Arabella, Hello (1971) ... (creator)

- One for the Road (1971) ... (creator)

- The Great Debate (1971) ... (creator)

- Professor Pygmalion Plays Golf (1971) ... (creator)

 

 1966The Year of the Horse (story)

 

Additional Crew (14 credits)

 1991 Step by Step (TV Series) (developer)

 1982 Joanie Loves Chachi (TV Series) (developer - as Tom Miller)

 1972 Irish Whiskey Rebellion (production assistant)

 1972 The New Healers (TV Movie) (in charge of project development)

 1972 Women in Chains (TV Movie) (in charge of project development)

 1971 Terror in the Sky (TV Movie) (in charge of project development)

 1971 Longstreet (TV Series) (in charge of project development - 1 episode)

- Pilot (1971) ... (in charge of project development)

 1971 Dr. Cook's Garden (TV Movie) (in charge of project development)

 1971 Assault on the Wayne (TV Movie) (in charge of project development)

 1970 Weekend of Terror (TV Movie) (in charge of project development)

 1970 Quarantined (TV Movie) (in charge of project development)

 1969 The Young Lawyers (TV Series) (in charge of project development - 1 episode)

- The Young Lawyers (1969) ... (in charge of project development)

 1969 The Immortal (TV Series) (in charge of project development - 1 episode)

- Pilot (1969) ... (in charge of project development)

 1969 Seven in Darkness (TV Movie) (in charge of project development)

 

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director (6 credits)

 1966 The Fortune Cookie (assistant director - uncredited)

 1964 Kiss Me, Stupid (assistant director - uncredited)

 1963 Irma la Douce (assistant director - uncredited)

 1961 One, Two, Three (assistant director - uncredited)

 1960The Apartment (assistant director - uncredited)

 1959Some Like It Hot (assistant director - uncredited)