Jerry Belson
American film director and screenwriter

Jerry Belson

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American film director and screenwriter
Gender:
Male
Places:
United States of America
Is:
Film directorScreenwriterFilm producer
Work field:
Film, TV, Stage & Radio
Birth:
8 July 1938(El Centro, Imperial County, California, U.S.A.)
Death:
10 October 2006(Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, U.S.A.)
Family:
Children:
Kristine Belson
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Biography

Introduction

Jerry Belson (July 8, 1938 – October 10, 2006) was a writer, director, and producer of Hollywood films for over forty years.

Career

Belson's writing credits include the Steven Spielberg films Always and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, several episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and I Spy. During the early 1960s, concurrent with contributing scripts for TV sitcoms with then writing partner Garry Marshall, Belson did stories for Gold Key Comics. Belson also helped produce The Drew Carey Show, The Norm Show and The Tracey Ullman Show.

In the TV Land 2006 documentary The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases, Lowell Ganz credits Belson with including in the script of the season 3 Odd Couple episode "My Strife in Court" (originally aired Friday February 16, 1973) the catch-phrase "Never ASSUME, because when you ASSUME, you make an ASS of U and ME." Ganz noted Belson had heard it used years ago by a teacher in a typewriter repair class.

He won three Emmy Awards: for the Tracy Ullman Show in 1989 and 1990, and for “Tracey Takes On...” in 1997.

Belson died in Los Angeles, California on October 10, 2006, after a long battle with prostate cancer.

His sister, screenwriter Monica Johnson, died on November 1, 2010.

Television credits

  • The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966)
  • Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theater (1964)
  • Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. (1964–1969)
  • I Spy (1965–1968)
  • Hey Landlord! (1966–1967)
  • Sheriff Who? (pilot) (1967)
  • Love, American Style (1969–1974)
  • The Murdocks And The McClays (pilot) (1970)
  • Barefoot In The Park (1970)
  • The Odd Couple (1970–1975)
  • Evil Roy Slade (1972)
  • Cops (1973)
  • Mixed Nuts (pilot) (with Michael J. Leeson) (1977)
  • The Tracey Ullman Show (1987–1990)
  • Tracey Takes On... (1996–1999)
  • The Drew Carey Show (Consulting Producer) (1995–2004)
  • The Norm Show (Consulting Producer) (1999–2001)

Film credits

  • How Sweet It Is! (1968) (with Garry Marshall)
  • The Grasshopper (1970)
  • Smile (1975)
  • Fun With Dick And Jane (with David Giler and Mordecai Richler) (1977)
  • Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) (uncredited)
  • The End (1978)
  • Smokey and the Bandit II (with Brock Yates) (1980)
  • Student Bodies (1981) (Executive Producer)
  • Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again (with Monica Johnson, Harvey Miller and Michael J. Leeson) (1982)
  • Surrender (1987)
  • Always (1989)

Theater credits

  • The Roast (with Garry Marshall) (1980)
  • Smile (1986) (adapted from the screenplay)