Rick Mittleman obit

 

Rick Mittleman, Emmy-Nominated Writer, Dies at 84

UPDATED: The veteran scribe worked on such series as "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Odd Couple" and "Gomer Pyle: USMC" during his five-decade career.

He was not on the list.

Rick Mittleman, a three-time Emmy Award nominee who wrote for such classic comedies as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gomer Pyle: USMC, The Flintstones, M*A*S*H and The Odd Couple, has died. He was 84.

Mittleman, whose entertainment career spanned five decades, was involved in a traffic accident and died July 30 in the Hancock Park section of Los Angeles, a family spokesman said.

Mittleman wrote for such comedies as The Mary Tyler Moore Show (the 1972 episode in which Murray, played by Gavin MacLeod, is moonlighting to make extra money for an anniversary gift, but Mary thinks he’s cheating on his wife), , Get Smart, Bewitched, McHale’s Navy, The Donna Reed Show, Petticoat Junction, The Doris Day Show, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, That Girl, Welcome Back, Kotter and Sanford and Son, to name just a few.

He wrote 30 episodes of the CBS hit Gomer Pyle, which starred Jim Nabors.

Mittleman also penned installments of such hourlong series as I Spy, Emergency!, CHiPs, Remington Steele, Matlock, MacGyver, Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote.

His Emmy noms came in 1963 for writing on The Red Skelton Show; in 1971 for Arnie, a CBS comedy starring Herschel Bernardi and Sue Ann Langdon; and in 1976 for the NBC sketch comedy special Van Dyke and Company.

Earlier, Mittleman was a producer on the 1950s popular live show You Asked for It in which viewers would write in requesting things they wanted to see on TV, like a knife-thrower or a reunion of the Our Gang kids of the movies.

Mittleman served on the WGA’s board of directors for many years and in 1997 received the guild’s prestigious Morgan Cox Award. 

Survivors include his wife Arlene, children Todd, Rachel and Dana and grandchildren Leah, Will, Isaac and Mia.

Writer

Kyle Chandler and Shanesia Davis in Early Edition (1996)

Early Edition

7.6

TV Series

written by

1999

1 episode

 

Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

Murder, She Wrote

7.2

TV Series

written by

1993–1994

2 episodes

 

Sylvia Millecam in De Sylvia Millecam Show (1994)

De Sylvia Millecam Show

6.4

TV Series

original script (uncredited)

1994–1995

1 episode

 

Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985)

MacGyver

7.6

TV Series

written by

1989–1991

7 episodes

 

William Conrad and Joe Penny in Jake and the Fatman (1987)

Jake and the Fatman

6.4

TV Series

written by

1989

1 episode

 

Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker in Simon & Simon (1981)

Simon & Simon

7.0

TV Series

teleplaywritten by

1988–1989

3 episodes

 

David Rappaport in The Wizard (1986)

The Wizard

7.7

TV Series

teleplay bywritten by

1986

2 episodes

 

Andy Griffith in Matlock (1986)

Matlock

7.1

TV Series

story by

1986

1 episode

 

Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in Remington Steele (1982)

Remington Steele

7.3

TV Series

written by

1984–1986

4 episodes

 

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 (segment "By Hook or by Crook")

1984

1 episode

 

David Birney and Morgan Brittany in Glitter (1984)

Glitter

6.2

TV Series

written by

1984

1 episode

 

Ann Jillian in Jennifer Slept Here (1983)

Jennifer Slept Here

7.0

TV Series

written by

1983

1 episode

 

Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox in CHiPs (1977)

CHiPs

6.5

TV Series

written by

1977–1982

9 episodes

 

Hector Elizondo and Tom Mason in Freebie and the Bean (1980)

Freebie and the Bean

6.3

TV Series

written by

1981

1 episode

 

Walt Disney in The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.3

TV Series

writer

1980

2 episodes

 

The Ghosts of Buxley Hall (1980)

The Ghosts of Buxley Hall

5.6

TV Movie

teleplay by

1980

 

Douglas Barr, Philip Brown, Susan Buckner, Tim Rossovich, and Dolph Sweet in When the Whistle Blows (1980)

When the Whistle Blows

5.5

TV Series

Writer

1980

1 episode

 

The Practice (1976)

The Practice

6.6

TV Series

written by

1977

2 episodes

 

LaWanda Page and Teddy Wilson in Sanford Arms (1977)

Sanford Arms

5.8

TV Series

written by

1977

1 episode

 

Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)

Welcome Back, Kotter

7.1

TV Series

contributing writerwritten by

1975–1977

2 episodes

 

What's Happening!! (1976)

What's Happening!!

7.0

TV Series

written by

1977

4 episodes

 

Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson in Sanford and Son (1972)

Sanford and Son

7.9

TV Series

written by

1974–1977

3 episodes

 

Valerie Bertinelli, Bonnie Franklin, Pat Harrington Jr., and Mackenzie Phillips in One Day at a Time (1975)

One Day at a Time

6.6

TV Series

written by

1977

1 episode

 

Don Rickles in CPO Sharkey (1976)

CPO Sharkey

7.0

TV Series

storyteleplay

1977

1 episode

 

Polly Holliday, Beth Howland, and Linda Lavin in Alice (1976)

Alice

6.9

TV Series

written by

1977

1 episode

 

Gemini Man (1976)

Gemini Man

6.2

TV Series

story

1976

1 episode

 

Van Dyke and Company (1976)

Van Dyke and Company

7.5

TV Series

written by

1976

1 episode

 

Van Dyke and Company

7.6

TV Special

Writer

1975

 

Alan Alda, David Ogden Stiers, Gary Burghoff, William Christopher, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, and Loretta Swit in M*A*S*H (1972)

M*A*S*H

8.5

TV Series

written by

1975

1 episode

 

Karen (1975)

Karen

7.5

TV Series

written by

1975

1 episode

 

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

written by

1975

2 episodes

 

Emergency! (1972)

Emergency!

7.9

TV Series

written by

1974

2 episodes

 

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

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

written by

1971–1974

6 episodes

 

Bob Denver, William Cort, Ivor Francis, Jeannine Riley, Lori Saunders, Forrest Tucker, and Lynn Wood in Dusty's Trail (1973)

Dusty's Trail

5.2

TV Series

written by

1974

2 episodes

 

Stu Gilliam and Hilly Hicks in Roll Out (1973)

Roll Out

7.2

TV Series

written by

1973

1 episode

 

Anne Archer, Robert Urich, Anita Gillette, and David Spielberg in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1973)

Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice

5.3

TV Series

written by

1973

1 episode

 

Thicker Than Water

7.7

TV Series

Writer

1973

1 episode

 

Meredith Baxter and David Birney in Bridget Loves Bernie (1972)

Bridget Loves Bernie

6.7

TV Series

written by

1973

1 episode

 

A Touch of Grace (1973)

A Touch of Grace

7.8

TV Series

writer

1973

 

The Doris Day Show (1968)

The Doris Day Show

7.2

TV Series

storywritten by

1970–1973

3 episodes

 

The Don Rickles Show

6.8

TV Series

Writer

1972

1 episode

 

Ted Bessell in Me and the Chimp (1972)

Me and the Chimp

3.6

TV Series

written by

1972

1 episode

 

Edward Asner, Valerie Harper, and Mary Tyler Moore in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970)

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

8.3

TV Series

written by

1972

1 episode

 

Marlo Thomas in That Girl (1966)

That Girl

7.3

TV Series

written by

1966–1970

4 episodes

 

Herschel Bernardi and Sue Ane Langdon in Arnie (1970)

Arnie

7.1

TV Series

written by

1970

1 episode

 

Nanny and the Professor (1970)

Nanny and the Professor

7.1

TV Series

written by

1970

1 episode

 

Bill Cosby in The Bill Cosby Show (1969)

The Bill Cosby Show

6.1

TV Series

written by

1970

1 episode

 

Lisa Gerritsen, Joan Hotchkis, and William Windom in My World and Welcome to It (1969)

My World and Welcome to It

8.5

TV Series

written by

1969–1970

3 episodes

 

Elizabeth Montgomery, Agnes Moorehead, and Dick York in Bewitched (1964)

Bewitched

7.6

TV Series

story byteleplay bywritten by

1967–1969

4 episodes

 

The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969)

The Courtship of Eddie's Father

7.3

TV Series

storyteleplay

1969

1 episode

 

Hallelujah, Leslie!

TV Special

Writer

1969

 

Jim Nabors and Frank Sutton in Gomer Pyle: USMC (1964)

Gomer Pyle: USMC

7.0

TV Series

written by

1965–1969

20 episodes

 

Don Adams and Barbara Feldon in Get Smart (1965)

Get Smart

8.2

TV Series

written by

1969

1 episode

 

Goldie Hawn, Joby Baker, Billy De Wolfe, Julie Parrish, and Ronnie Schell in Good Morning World (1967)

Good Morning World

6.6

TV Series

written by

1967–1968

5 episodes

 

Hey, Landlord (1966)

Hey, Landlord

7.3

TV Series

written by

1967

3 episodes

 

Bill Cosby and Robert Culp in I Spy (1965)

I Spy

7.2

TV Series

written by

1966–1967

2 episodes

 

Bea Benaderet, Edgar Buchanan, Smiley Burnette, Frank Cady, Rufe Davis, Linda Henning, Gunilla Hutton, Meredith MacRae, Mike Minor, Jeannine Riley, Lori Saunders, and Pat Woodell in Petticoat Junction (1963)

Petticoat Junction

7.0

TV Series

written by

1966

1 episode

 

Shelley Fabares, Donna Reed, Carl Betz, and Paul Petersen in The Donna Reed Show (1958)

The Donna Reed Show

7.4

TV Series

written by

1966

1 episode

 

Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)

The Dick Van Dyke Show

8.4

TV Series

written by

1965

2 episodes

 

Karen (1964)

Karen

8.0

TV Series

story editorstory bywritten by

1964–1965

7 episodes

 

Mel Blanc, Bea Benaderet, Don Messick, Alan Reed, and Jean Vander Pyl in The Flintstones (1960)

The Flintstones

7.5

TV Series

written bystory by

1963–1965

2 episodes

 

Red Skelton in The Red Skelton Hour (1951)

The Red Skelton Hour

8.1

TV Series

writeradditional material

1962–1963

32 episodes

 

Father of the Bride (1961)

Father of the Bride

7.6

TV Series

written by

1961

1 episode

 

You Asked for It (1950)

You Asked for It

7.7

TV Series

writer

1957

1 episode

 

Producer

Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker in Simon & Simon (1981)

Simon & Simon

7.0

TV Series

co-producer

1988–1989

13 episodes

 

David Rappaport in The Wizard (1986)

The Wizard

7.7

TV Series

co-producer

1986–1987

4 episodes

 

Herschel Bernardi and Sue Ane Langdon in Arnie (1970)

Arnie

7.1

TV Series

producer

1970–1971

23 episodes

 

Script and Continuity Department

Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in Remington Steele (1982)

Remington Steele

7.3

TV Series

executive script consultant

1986

6 episodes

 

Sonny Shroyer and Samuel E. Wright in Enos (1980)

Enos

5.2

TV Series

executive script consultant

1981

1 episode

 

Douglas Barr, Philip Brown, Susan Buckner, Tim Rossovich, and Dolph Sweet in When the Whistle Blows (1980)

When the Whistle Blows

5.5

TV Series

executive script consultant

1980

1 episode

 

The Paper Chase (1973)

The Paper Chase

8.1

TV Series

executive script consultant

1978

1 episode

 

What's Happening!! (1976)

What's Happening!!

7.0

TV Series

script consultant

1977

7 episodes

 

McHale's Navy (1962)

McHale's Navy

7.4

TV Series

script consultant

1964–1965

23 episodes

 

Additional Crew

Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985)

MacGyver

7.6

TV Series

creative consultant

1990–1992

35 episodes

 

Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in Remington Steele (1982)

Remington Steele

7.3

TV Series

executive story consultant

1986

1 episode

 

Karen (1964)

Karen

8.0

TV Series

story editor

1965

9 episodes

 

Thanks

Memories of M*A*S*H (1991)

Memories of M*A*S*H

8.1

TV Movie

special thanks

1991