John Peaslee obit

John Peaslee Dies: Comedy Writer Best Known For ‘Coach’ & ‘According To Jim’ Was 73

 

He was not on the list.

John Peaslee, a longtime comedy writer best known for his work on Coach and According to Jim, died November 11 of natural causes at his Sherman Oaks, CA. home. He was 73.

Peaslee’s death was confirmed by his former writing partner, Judd Pillot.

A New York native and graduate of Northwestern University, Peaslee’s career spanned more than 40 years and several genres. He began in news and documentaries, first at Newsweek and later for producer Alvin H. Perlmutter. In 1985, he moved to Los Angeles where he enjoyed a successful career in TV comedy, writing and producing such shows as Coach, Mad About You, Something So Right, According to Jim, Just Shoot Me and Liv and Maddie.

“John was classy, soft spoken and so annoyingly even tempered,” Pillot wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. “We made a colorful team. He was caviar on toast points to my lox on a bagel. And with his blue eyes and that perfect hair, he was a striking Paul Newman to my Paul Reiser. Sorry, Paul.”

Peaslee is survived by his wife Dava Waite; daughter Rebecca; and brother Jim.

In lieu of services, the family asks that you donate to your local animal charity, contribute to Alcoholics Anonymous (LACOAA.org) or take a long hike in your favorite spot and think of Peaslee walking beside you.

Producer

Liv and Maddie (2013)

Liv and Maddie

6.4

TV Series

executive producer

2013–2017

80 episodes

 

Regan Burns, Beth Littleford, Kuma, Stephen Full, Blake Michael, Genevieve Hannelius, and Francesca Capaldi in Dog with a Blog (2012)

Dog with a Blog

5.0

TV Series

co-executive producer

2012–2014

32 episodes

 

Edward Asner and Melissa Peterman in Working Class (2011)

Working Class

5.9

TV Series

consulting producer

2011

12 episodes

 

Operating Instructions

5.3

TV Movie

executive producer

2009

 

Sherri (2009)

Sherri

6.4

TV Series

co-executive producer

2009

12 episodes

 

Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Taylor Atelian, and Billi Bruno in According to Jim (2001)

According to Jim

6.5

TV Series

executive producer

co-executive producer

consulting producer

2005–2009

76 episodes

 

Jenna Elfman in Courting Alex (2006)

Courting Alex

5.3

TV Series

consulting producer

2006

11 episodes

 

James Garner, Katey Sagal, David Spade, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, and Martin Spanjers in 8 Simple Rules (2002)

8 Simple Rules

7.0

TV Series

executive producer

2004–2005

24 episodes

 

A Minute with Stan Hooper (2003)

A Minute with Stan Hooper

6.6

TV Series

co-executive producer

2003–2004

11 episodes

 

Just Shoot Me! (1997)

Just Shoot Me!

6.9

TV Series

executive producer

2002–2003

24 episodes

 

Josh Ackerman, Natalia Cigliuti, Will Friedle, and Sean Murray in The Random Years (2002)

The Random Years

6.4

TV Series

executive producer

2002

5 episodes

 

True Love

TV Movie

executive producer

2001

 

Jason Bateman and Danny Nucci in Some of My Best Friends (2001)

Some of My Best Friends

7.2

TV Series

executive producer

2001

6 episodes

 

JoBeth Williams, Julie Benz, Rick Batalla, and John Larroquette in Payne (1999)

Payne

3.8

TV Series

executive producer

1999

9 episodes

 

Something So Right (1996)

Something So Right

6.9

TV Series

executive producer

1996–1998

37 episodes

 

Kari Coleman, Richard Kind, John O'Hurley, and Stephen Tobolowsky in A Whole New Ballgame (1995)

A Whole New Ballgame

6.1

TV Series

executive producer

1995

1 episode

 

Blue Skies (1994)

Blue Skies

7.0

TV Series

executive producer

1994

8 episodes

 

Shelley Fabares, Craig T. Nelson, Bill Fagerbakke, Kenneth Kimmins, and Jerry Van Dyke in Coach (1989)

Coach

7.0

TV Series

co-executive producer

supervising producer

1989–1993

85 episodes

 

How to Raise a Streetsmart Child (1987)

How to Raise a Streetsmart Child

TV Special

producer

1987

 

Adam Smith's Money World

6.4

TV Series

senior producer

1984–1985

2 episodes

 

Writer

Oh Brother Who Are Thou? (2020)

Oh Brother Who Are Thou?

7.4

Short

writer

2020

 

Kyle Johnson and Madison Zantello in Tell Me a Little About Yourself (2020)

Tell Me a Little About Yourself

Short

writer

2020

 

Liv and Maddie (2013)

Liv and Maddie

6.4

TV Series

written by

2013–2017

10 episodes

 

Regan Burns, Beth Littleford, Kuma, Stephen Full, Blake Michael, Genevieve Hannelius, and Francesca Capaldi in Dog with a Blog (2012)

Dog with a Blog

5.0

TV Series

written by

2012–2013

3 episodes

 

Edward Asner and Melissa Peterman in Working Class (2011)

Working Class

5.9

TV Series

written by

2011

3 episodes

 

Sigourney Weaver, Ray Liotta, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Allen, Julie Bowen, J.K. Simmons, Helen Slayton-Hughes, and Kenton Duty in Crazy on the Outside (2010)

Crazy on the Outside

5.5

written by

2010

 

Operating Instructions

5.3

TV Movie

written by

2009

 

Sherri (2009)

Sherri

6.4

TV Series

written by

2009

1 episode

 

Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Taylor Atelian, and Billi Bruno in According to Jim (2001)

According to Jim

6.5

TV Series

written by

2005–2009

11 episodes

 

Jenna Elfman in Courting Alex (2006)

Courting Alex

5.3

TV Series

written by

writer

2006

2 episodes

 

James Garner, Katey Sagal, David Spade, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, and Martin Spanjers in 8 Simple Rules (2002)

8 Simple Rules

7.0

TV Series

written by

2005

3 episodes

 

A Minute with Stan Hooper (2003)

A Minute with Stan Hooper

6.6

TV Series

written by

2003–2004

2 episodes

 

Just Shoot Me! (1997)

Just Shoot Me!

6.9

TV Series

written by

2002–2003

2 episodes

 

Josh Ackerman, Natalia Cigliuti, Will Friedle, and Sean Murray in The Random Years (2002)

The Random Years

6.4

TV Series

written by

2002

1 episode

 

True Love

TV Movie

written by

2001

 

Jason Bateman and Danny Nucci in Some of My Best Friends (2001)

Some of My Best Friends

7.2

TV Series

Writer

2001

2 episodes

 

JoBeth Williams, Julie Benz, Rick Batalla, and John Larroquette in Payne (1999)

Payne

3.8

TV Series

created by

teleplay

creator ...

1999

4 episodes

 

Something So Right (1996)

Something So Right

6.9

TV Series

created by

written by

story ...

1996–1998

17 episodes

 

Kari Coleman, Richard Kind, John O'Hurley, and Stephen Tobolowsky in A Whole New Ballgame (1995)

A Whole New Ballgame

6.1

TV Series

created by

written by (creator)

1995

8 episodes

 

Blue Skies (1994)

Blue Skies

7.0

TV Series

teleplay

created by

written by ...

1994

4 episodes

 

Shelley Fabares, Craig T. Nelson, Bill Fagerbakke, Kenneth Kimmins, and Jerry Van Dyke in Coach (1989)

Coach

7.0

TV Series

written by

teleplay

1989–1992

27 episodes

 

Anything But Love (1989)

Anything But Love

6.9

TV Series

written by

1989

1 episode

 

Mary Page Keller and Matthew Laurance in Duet (1987)

Duet

7.1

TV Series

written by

teleplay by

executive story editor

1987–1988

12 episodes

 

How to Raise a Streetsmart Child (1987)

How to Raise a Streetsmart Child

TV Special

Writer

1987

 

Additional Crew

Shelley Fabares, Craig T. Nelson, Bill Fagerbakke, Kenneth Kimmins, and Jerry Van Dyke in Coach (1989)

Coach

7.0

TV Series

executive story editor

1989

4 episodes

 

Mary Page Keller and Matthew Laurance in Duet (1987)

Duet

7.1

TV Series

executive story editor

story editor

1987

3 episodes