Geoffrey Neigher obit

Geoffrey Neigher, ‘Rhoda’ Writer and Emmy-Winning ‘Picket Fences’ Producer, Dies at 78

He worked for MTM Enterprises and on 'Gimme a Break!,' 'Northern Exposure,' 'Murder One' and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent,' too. 

He was not on the list.

Geoffrey Neigher, the TV writer-producer who penned episodes of The Bob Newhart Show, Rhoda and Murder One and shared an Emmy for outstanding drama series for his work on Picket Fences, has died. He was 78.

Neigher died Aug. 10 at his Hancock Park home in Los Angeles of complications from cancer, his wife, Karen, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Neigher had a writing credit/story editor credit on about two dozen episodes of CBS’ Rhoda during its first three seasons (1974-77) while also serving as executive script consultant on the Valerie Harper sitcom.

Neigher wrote and produced for CBS’ Picket Fences on its second and third seasons from 1993-95 and shared the top drama Emmy with series creator David E. Kelley and others in 1994.

A year earlier, he received an Emmy nomination for writing an episode of Northern Exposure; he wrote for and produced that CBS drama during its fourth season (1992-93).

He later wrote and produced ABC’s Murder One during its two seasons (1995-97).

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Geoffrey Mark Neigher graduated from Yale University and Yale Law School. After moving to Los Angeles in 1973, he and writing partner Coleman “Chick” Mitchell worked for MTM Enterprises on The Bob Newhart Show, Rhoda and Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers.

He and Coleman also wrote and produced the NBC comedy Gimme a Break! during its first two seasons (1981-83).

Neigher’s résumé also included work on such other shows as The New Odd Couple, We Got It Made, the Elizabeth Peña-starring I Married Dora, Roomies, John Doe and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

In addition to his wife, survivors include his children, Julie and Eric; daughter-in-law Jennifer; grandchildren Atticus and Wilhelmina; and brothers Rick and Steve. A memorial service is planned for the autumn.

 

Producer

Dominic Purcell in John Doe (2002)

John Doe

co-executive producer

TV Series

2002–2003

10 episodes

 

Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Eric Bogosian, Julianne Nicholson, and Chris Noth in Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

co-executive producer

TV Series

2001–2002

13 episodes

 

Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer (1997)

Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer

supervising producer

TV Mini Series

1997

6 episodes

 

Jim Belushi and James Remar in Total Security (1997)

Total Security

supervising producer

TV Series

1997

 

Murder One (1995)

Murder One

supervising producerproducer

TV Series

1995–1997

40 episodes

 

Picket Fences (1992)

Picket Fences

producerco-producer

TV Series

1993–1995

44 episodes

 

Northern Exposure (1990)

Northern Exposure

co-producer

TV Series

1992–1993

13 episodes

 

Juliette Lewis, Elizabeth Peña, Jason Horst, and Daniel Hugh Kelly in I Married Dora (1987)

I Married Dora

co-executive producer

TV Series

1987

2 episodes

 

Roomies (1987)

Roomies

co-executive producer (as Geoff Neigher)

TV Series

1987

8 episodes

 

Chad Lowe in Spencer (1984)

Spencer

supervising producer

TV Series

1984–1985

5 episodes

 

Nell Carter in Gimme a Break! (1981)

Gimme a Break!

producer

TV Series

1981–1983

41 episodes

 

Ron Glass and Demond Wilson in The New Odd Couple (1982)

The New Odd Couple

producer

TV Series

1982

4 episodes

 

Who's on Call?

producer

TV Series

1979

1 episode

 

Annie Flynn

producer

TV Movie

1978