‘Facts of Life,’ ‘Silver Spoons’ Co-Creator Ben Starr Dies at 92
Prolific scribe started in radio, wrote for 'All in the Family,' 'Mr. Ed,' 'The Brady Bunch'
He was not on the list.
Comedy writer Ben Starr, whose career stretched from radio through 1980s sitcoms, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 92.
Starr was a co-creator of NBC comedies “The Facts of Life” and “Silver Spoons.” During his long career, he wrote for TV comedies ranging from “All in the Family” to “Diff’rent Strokes” as well as “Mr. Ed,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Petticoat Junction,” “The Brady Bunch” and “Chico and the Man.”
Starr inadvertently helped create the famous catchphrase from “Diff’rent Strokes” — “Whatchu talking ’bout Willis?” The line as written in an early script for the show was “What are you talking about, Willis?” but after star Gary Coleman gave it his distinctive delivery, Starr knew it was a keeper.
Starr went on to create the spinoff “Facts of Life” with two other writers he met while working on “Diff’rent Strokes,” Martin Cohan and Howard Leeds. “Facts of Life” ran from 1979 to 1988. “Silver Spoons,” also created with Cohan and Leeds, ran from 1982-1987 and launched the career of Rick Schroder.
In addition to his TV work, Starr penned a number of features including 1966’s “Our Man Flint” and “Texas Across the River” and 1967’s “The Spirit is Willing.” He also wrote plays, including “The Family Way,” which had a brief run on Broadway in 1965.
Raised in Brooklyn by Russian immigrant parents, Starr served in WWII and attended New York’s City College and later graduated from UCLA. He got his showbiz start in radio, writing for such giants as Al Jolson, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin and George Burns.
Starr was among the veteran comedy scribes featured in the documentary “Lunch,” about the group’s regular kvetch sessions at Factor’s Deli in Los Angeles.
Starr also co-wrote the screenplays for the 1966 James Bond parody Our Man Flint, the 1966 Western satire Texas Across the River and the animated versions of Treasure Island (1972) and Oliver Twist (1974). He also wrote plays, including Broadway's The Family Way in 1965. The 2012 documentary Lunch featured Starr, along with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner and other career comedy writers and performers who reflected on the genre and the industry.
He also was featured in Lunch, Donna Kanter’s documentary about comedians.
Starr’s wife of 50 years, Gloria, died in 1999.
Survivors include three children and three grandchildren and nephew Andy Kaplan, who heads international channels for Sony Pictures TV.
Writer (53 credits)
2001 The Wonderful World of Disney (TV Series) (series developer - 1 episode)
- The Facts of Life Reunion (2001) ... (series developer)
1979-1988 The Facts of Life (TV Series) (developed by - 201 episodes)
- The Beginning of the Beginning (1988) ... (creator)
- The Beginning of the End (1988) ... (creator)
- Big Apple Blues (1988) ... (creator)
- On the Edge (1988) ... (creator)
- Present Imperfect (1988) ... (creator)
Silver Spoons (TV Series) (created by - 115 episodes, 1982 - 1987) (story - 1 episode, 1982)
- Let It Snow, Let It Snow (1987) ... (creator)
- Edward's Big Adventure (1987) ... (creator)
- Educating Rick (1987) ... (creator)
- Pardon My French (1987) ... (creator)
- Thoroughly Modern Mildred (1987) ... (creator)
1987 Small Wonder (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- The Personality Kid (1987) ... (written by)
Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) (written by - 11 episodes, 1978 - 1982) (story by - 8 episodes, 1979 - 1982) (teleplay by - 8 episodes, 1979 - 1981)
- Short But Sweet (1982) ... (written by)
- Have I Got a Girl for You (1982) ... (story by)
- Crime Story: Part 2 (1982) ... (written by)
- Crime Story: Part 1 (1982) ... (written by)
- Almost American (1981) ... (teleplay by)
1979 Mork & Mindy (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Mork Runs Down (1979) ... (written by)
All in the Family (TV Series) (written by - 9 episodes, 1975 - 1977) (teleplay by - 2 episodes, 1977 - 1978)
- The Commercial (1978) ... (teleplay by)
- Unequal Partners (1977) ... (written by)
- Archie's Dog Day Afternoon (1977) ... (teleplay by)
- Archie the Liberal (1977) ... (written by)
- Mike Goes Skiing (1977) ... (written by)
1977 The San Pedro Beach Bums (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- Sweepstakes Bums (1977) ... (writer)
1977 Chico and the Man (TV Series) (written by - 4 episodes)
- The Third Letter (1977) ... (written by)
- Take Me, I'm Yours (1977) ... (written by)
- Champs Ain't Chumps (1977) ... (written by)
- The Dress (1977) ... (written by)
1976 Joys! (TV Special)
1974 Maude (TV Series) (story by - 1 episode)
- Walter's Dream (1974) ... (story by)
1974 Oliver Twist (screenplay by)
1973 Treasure Island (screenplay)
1971-1973 The Brady Bunch (TV Series) (written by - 3 episodes)
- Snow White and the Seven Bradys (1973) ... (written by)
- Dough Re Mi (1972) ... (written by)
- The Personality Kid (1971) ... (written by)
1972 The Paul Lynde Show (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Paul's Desperate Hour (1972) ... (written by)
1972 The Partners (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Magnificent Perception (1972) ... (written by)
1972 My Sister Hank (TV Movie)
1971 The Chicago Teddy Bears (TV Series) (1 episode)
- The Auction (1971)
1969 How to Commit Marriage (writer)
1967 The Spirit Is Willing (screenplay)
1967 The Busy Body (screenplay by)
1966 Texas Across the River (written by)
1966 The Pad (and How to Use It)
1966 The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Look Paw, I'm Dancing (1966) ... (written by)
1966 The Double Life of Henry Phyfe (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- Whatever Happened to Yesterday (1966) ... (writer)
1966 Our Man Flint (screenplay)
1965-1966 Petticoat Junction (TV Series) (written by - 2 episodes)
- Better Never Than Late (1966) ... (written by)
- The Crowded Wedding Ring (1965) ... (written by)
1964-1966 My Favorite Martian (TV Series) (written by - 3 episodes)
- Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (1966) ... (written by)
- My Nephew the Artist (1964) ... (written by)
- Who Am I? (1964) ... (written by)
Burke's Law (TV Series) (story by - 1 episode, 1965) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1965)
- A Little Gift for Cairo (1965) ... (story by) / (teleplay)
1965 Tammy (TV Series) (teleplay and story - 1 episode)
- Will the Real Dwayne Whitt Please Stand Up? (1965) ... (teleplay and story)
1965 The Donna Reed Show (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Thy Name Is Woman (1965) ... (written by)
1964 The Cara Williams Show (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Get the Lead Out (1964) ... (written by)
1964 The New Phil Silvers Show (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- Moonlight and Dozes (1964) ... (writer)
1961-1963 Mister Ed (TV Series) (written by - 40 episodes)
- The Blessed Event (1963) ... (written by)
- Wilbur's Father (1963) ... (written by)
- Ed and the Secret Service (1963) ... (written by)
- Horse of a Different Color (1962) ... (written by)
- Wilbur the Masher (1962) ... (written by)
1963 Ensign O'Toole (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Operation: Geisha (1963) ... (written by)
The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) (written by - 2 episodes, 1962) (writer - 1 episode, 1963)
- The Honorable Albert Higgins (1963) ... (writer)
- Special Assignment (1962) ... (written by)
- No Strings Attached (1962) ... (written by)
Bachelor Father (TV Series) (written by - 8 episodes, 1958 - 1962) (story - 1 episode, 1959) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1958)
- Kelly the Yes Man (1962) ... (written by)
- Bentley, the Hero (1959) ... (written by)
- Bentley and the Beauty Contest (1959) ... (story)
- Bentley, the Organizer (1959) ... (written by)
- Bentley and the Motorcycle (1959) ... (written by)
1960 Tom, Dick and Harry (TV Movie)
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (TV Series) (story - 1 episode, 1960) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1960) (written by - 1 episode, 1959)
- The Hunger Strike (1960) ... (story) / (teleplay)
- The Right Triangle (1959) ... (written by)
1958 Studio One (TV Series) (teleplay - 1 episode)
- A Funny-Looking Kid (1958) ... (teleplay)
1958 The Thin Man (TV Series) (1 episode)
- Unlucky Lucky Number (1958)
1957-1958 The Guy Mitchell Show (TV Series) (script - 15 episodes)
- Final Show (1958) ... (script)
- Marty Robbins, Dolores Hawkins, Orville Ojalla, Betty Duncan, The Lancers (1958) ... (script)
- Marty Robbins (1957) ... (script)
- Margie Rayburn, Somethin' Smith (1957) ... (script)
- Chuck Berry, Johnny Bach (1957) ... (script)
1957 Perry Mason (TV Series) (teleplay by - 1 episode)
- The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink (1957) ... (teleplay by)
1956 Front Row Center (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- Uncle Barney (1956) ... (writer)
Climax! (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode, 1955) (adaptation - 1 episode, 1955)
- Pink Cloud (1955) ... (writer)
- Thin Air (1955) ... (adaptation)
December Bride (TV Series) (1 episode, 1955) (written by - 1 episode, 1955)
- Lily's Song (1955) ... (written by)
- Matt Cooks (1955)
1955 The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater (TV Series) (1 episode)
- The Practical Joker (1955)
1955 The Ray Milland Show (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- The Professor Writes a Play (1955) ... (written by)
Duffy's Tavern (TV Series) (1 episode, 1954) (teleplay - 2 episodes, 1954) (written by - 1 episode)
- A Date for Miss Duffy (1954)
- Grand Opening (1954) ... (teleplay)
- Archie's Singing Contest ... (teleplay)
- Archie's Insurance Business ... (written by)
I Married Joan (TV Series) (3 episodes, 1953) (writer - 2 episodes, 1953)
- Model (1953) ... (writer)
- Diet (1953)
- The Stamp (1953) ... (writer)
- Shopping (1953)
- Fireman (1953)
1952 My Hero (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- The Cupid (1952) ... (writer)
1952 All Star Revue (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- Host: Jimmy Durante; Guests: Margaret Truman, Phil Harris, Eddie Jackson, Jack Roth, Jules Buffano (1952) ... (writer)
1951 The Saturday Night Revue with Jack Carter (TV Series) (1 episode)
- Milton Berle, John Payne (1951)
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