Mike Milligan obit

Mike Milligan, ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons’ Writer-Producer, Dies at 77

He also wrote and produced episodes of 'Maude' and 'Dear John.' 

He was not on the list.

Mike Milligan, a writer and producer on hit television shows All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude and Dear John, died on Dec. 20. He was 77.

Milligan died from acute respiratory failure at his home in West Hills, California, his rep told The Hollywood Reporter.

Born Bernard Michael Milligan on Jan. 28, 1947, in Los Angeles, he went on to graduate from Loyola Marymount University. He later served in the Air Force.

Milligan eventually found a passion for writing and producing, working alongside his writing partner of 18 years, Jay Moriarty. Together, they wrote and produced several award-winning TV shows, including 49 episodes of Norman Lear’s The Jeffersons (1978-81). The producing pair received an NAACP Image Award for the show, which was among the first to tackle topics such as suicide, transgender identity and white supremacy in American sitcoms.

As a member of the Writers Guild of America for more than 50 years, Milligan also wrote and produced episodes of All in the Family (1976), Good Times (1974), What’s Happening Now (1985-88), Maude (1975), Dear John (1989-91), Here and Now (1992) and Melba (1986).

Milligan also created and wrote the original Telemundo series Los Beltran (1990-2001) with Carlos Bermudez. The show received an Alma Award for best comedy series, a Golden Eagle Award for outstanding comedy series and an Imagen Foundation Award for best comedy series.

Outside of his work in TV, Milligan collaborated with partner John Harper on workshops about Trauma Informed Care related to the homeless for nonprofit organizations across the country.

Survivors include his wife, Jill; his son, John Milligan; his sister, Jeri (Milligan) Gesto; and his stepdaughters, Dionn Avant and Mischon Beneda.

A memorial service is being planned for later this year.

 

Producer

Fatherhood (2004)

Fatherhood

5.1

TV Series

executive producer

2004–2005

 

Yeni Alvarez, Margarita Coego, Emiliano Díez, Agapito Leal, and Demetrius Navarro in Los Beltrán (1999)

Los Beltrán

8.6

TV Series

executive producer

1999–2001

 

704 Hauser (1994)

704 Hauser

4.9

TV Mini Series

supervising producer

1994

 

Here and Now (1992)

Here and Now

7.4

TV Series

executive producer

co-executive producer

1992

4 episodes

 

Della Reese, Larenz Tate, Mariann Aalda, Redd Foxx, Sylver Gregory, and Naya Rivera in The Royal Family (1991)

The Royal Family

7.3

TV Series

supervising producer

1991–1992

6 episodes

 

Judd Hirsch in Dear John (1988)

Dear John

6.8

TV Series

supervising producer

producer

1989–1991

9 episodes

 

What's Happening Now! (1985)

What's Happening Now!

6.2

TV Series

supervising producer

1985–1988

66 episodes

 

That's My Mama Now!

TV Movie

producer

1986

 

Gracie Harrison, Barbara Meek, Melba Moore, and Jamilla Perry in Melba (1986)

Melba

7.4

TV Series

supervising producer

1986

6 episodes

 

Marla Gibbs in Checking In (1981)

Checking In

6.2

TV Series

producer

executive producer

1981

2 episodes

 

Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford in The Jeffersons (1975)

The Jeffersons

7.5

TV Series

executive producer

producer

1978–1981

49 episodes

 

Writer

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times' (2019)

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: 'All in the Family' and 'Good Times'

7.5

TV Special

"All in the Family" written by

2019

 

Yeni Alvarez, Margarita Coego, Emiliano Díez, Agapito Leal, and Demetrius Navarro in Los Beltrán (1999)

Los Beltrán

8.6

TV Series

Writer

1999–2000

10 episodes

 

Della Reese, Larenz Tate, Mariann Aalda, Redd Foxx, Sylver Gregory, and Naya Rivera in The Royal Family (1991)

The Royal Family

7.3

TV Series

written by

1991–1992

2 episodes

 

Here and Now (1992)

Here and Now

7.4

TV Series

written by

1992

2 episodes

 

Judd Hirsch in Dear John (1988)

Dear John

6.8

TV Series

written by

1989–1991

7 episodes

 

What's Happening Now! (1985)

What's Happening Now!

6.2

TV Series

written by

story by

1985–1987

5 episodes

 

Gracie Harrison, Barbara Meek, Melba Moore, and Jamilla Perry in Melba (1986)

Melba

7.4

TV Series

written by

1986

1 episode

 

Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford in The Jeffersons (1975)

The Jeffersons

7.5

TV Series

story by

written by

teleplay by

1975–1981

30 episodes

 

Marla Gibbs in Checking In (1981)

Checking In

6.2

TV Series

created by (creator)

1981

4 episodes

 

Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)

All in the Family

8.4

TV Series

written by

1976

1 episode

 

Jack Albertson and Freddie Prinze in Chico and the Man (1974)

Chico and the Man

6.8

TV Series

written by

1975

1 episode

 

Joe and Sons (1975)

Joe and Sons

6.7

TV Series

story by

1975

2 episodes

 

Bea Arthur in Maude (1972)

Maude

7.3

TV Series

story 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

story

teleplay

written by

1974–1975

2 episodes

 

John Amos, Ralph Carter, Ja'net DuBois, Esther Rolle, BernNadette Stanis, and Jimmie 'JJ' Walker in Good Times (1974)

Good Times

7.4

TV Series

written by

1974

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

Della Reese, Larenz Tate, Mariann Aalda, Redd Foxx, Sylver Gregory, and Naya Rivera in The Royal Family (1991)

The Royal Family

7.3

TV Series

creative consultant

1992

5 episodes

 

Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford in The Jeffersons (1975)

The Jeffersons

7.5

TV Series

story editor

assistant story editor

program consultant

1975–1978

66 episodes