Ron Clark (writer)
Encyclopedia
Ron Clark is an American
playwright
and screenwriter
. He is best known for several plays that he co-wrote with Sam Bobrick
and for co-writing the screenplay
s for the films Silent Movie
, High Anxiety
, and Life Stinks
with Mel Brooks
.
and The Danny Kaye Show
. He wrote plays in the '70s with fellow writer Sam Bobrick
. Their first play, Norman, Is That You?
, premiered on Broadway
at the Lyceum Theatre on February 19, 1970. The two men went on to write several more plays together, including No Hard Feelings (1973), Murder at the Howard Johnson's
(1979), and Wally's Cafe (1981).
Clark remained active in writing for television and film up through the early 1990s. His many television credits include That Girl
(1970), Silver Spoons
(1985-1987), and Moonlighting
(1989), among others.
He also co-wrote the screenplays to the films Silent Movie
(1976), High Anxiety
(1977), Revenge of the Pink Panther
(1978), and Life Stinks
(1991).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. He is best known for several plays that he co-wrote with Sam Bobrick
Sam Bobrick
Sam Bobrick is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the television programs Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell and for his numerous plays, many of which were co-authored with Ron Clark.-Biography:After an almost four year stint in the U.S...
and for co-writing the screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
s for the films Silent Movie
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
, High Anxiety
High Anxiety
High Anxiety is a 1977 comedy film produced and directed by Mel Brooks, who also plays the lead. This is Brooks' first film as a producer and first "speaking" lead role...
, and Life Stinks
Life Stinks
Life Stinks is a 1991 comedy-drama directed by and starring Mel Brooks. It is known as one of the few Mel Brooks comedies that is not a parody, nor at any time does the film break the fourth wall. It co-stars Lesley Ann Warren, Howard Morris and Jeffrey Tambor...
with Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
.
Career
Clark began his career writing for TV during the '60s, including such shows as The Smothers Brothers Comedy HourThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour is an American comedy and variety show hosted by the Smothers Brothers and initially airing on CBS from 1967 to 1969.-History:...
and The Danny Kaye Show
The Danny Kaye Show
The Danny Kaye Show is an American variety show hosted by Danny Kaye that aired on CBS from 1963 to 1967 on Wednesday nights. Directed by Robert Scheerer, the show premiered in black-and-white, but later switched to color broadcasts...
. He wrote plays in the '70s with fellow writer Sam Bobrick
Sam Bobrick
Sam Bobrick is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the television programs Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell and for his numerous plays, many of which were co-authored with Ron Clark.-Biography:After an almost four year stint in the U.S...
. Their first play, Norman, Is That You?
Norman, Is That You?
Norman, Is That You? is a 1970 play in two acts by American playwrights Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick about a Jewish couple coming to terms with their son's homosexuality. The work is notably the first play written by both writers. After 19 preview performances, the play officially opened on Broadway...
, premiered on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Lyceum Theatre on February 19, 1970. The two men went on to write several more plays together, including No Hard Feelings (1973), Murder at the Howard Johnson's
Murder at the Howard Johnson's
Murder at the Howard Johnson's is a 1979 play in two acts by American playwrights Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick. The production officially opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre after 10 preview performances on May 17, 1979; closing just three days later after only 4 more performances. The...
(1979), and Wally's Cafe (1981).
Clark remained active in writing for television and film up through the early 1990s. His many television credits include That Girl
That Girl
That Girl is an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971. It stars Marlo Thomas as the title character, Ann Marie, an aspiring actress, who had moved from her hometown of Brewster, New York to make it big in New York City...
(1970), Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982 to May 11, 1986 and in first-run syndication from September 15, 1986 to March 4, 1987...
(1985-1987), and Moonlighting
Moonlighting (TV series)
Moonlighting is an American television series that aired on ABC from March 3, 1985, to May 14, 1989. The network aired a total of 66 episodes...
(1989), among others.
He also co-wrote the screenplays to the films Silent Movie
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
(1976), High Anxiety
High Anxiety
High Anxiety is a 1977 comedy film produced and directed by Mel Brooks, who also plays the lead. This is Brooks' first film as a producer and first "speaking" lead role...
(1977), Revenge of the Pink Panther
Revenge of the Pink Panther
Revenge of the Pink Panther is the sixth film in the Pink Panther film series. Released in 1978, Revenge of was the last entry featuring series star Peter Sellers, who died in 1980...
(1978), and Life Stinks
Life Stinks
Life Stinks is a 1991 comedy-drama directed by and starring Mel Brooks. It is known as one of the few Mel Brooks comedies that is not a parody, nor at any time does the film break the fourth wall. It co-stars Lesley Ann Warren, Howard Morris and Jeffrey Tambor...
(1991).
Credits
- Snuffy Smith and Barney Google (1963) (TV)
- The Danny Kaye ShowThe Danny Kaye ShowThe Danny Kaye Show is an American variety show hosted by Danny Kaye that aired on CBS from 1963 to 1967 on Wednesday nights. Directed by Robert Scheerer, the show premiered in black-and-white, but later switched to color broadcasts...
(1963) (TV) - The Jimmy Dean ShowThe Jimmy Dean ShowThe Jimmy Dean Show is the name of several similar music and variety series on American local and network television between 1957–75. Each starred country music singer Jimmy Dean as host.-Daytime:...
(1963) (TV) - The Smothers Brothers Comedy HourThe Smothers Brothers Comedy HourThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour is an American comedy and variety show hosted by the Smothers Brothers and initially airing on CBS from 1967 to 1969.-History:...
(1967-1968) (TV) - That GirlThat GirlThat Girl is an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971. It stars Marlo Thomas as the title character, Ann Marie, an aspiring actress, who had moved from her hometown of Brewster, New York to make it big in New York City...
(1970) (TV) - Norman, Is That You?Norman, Is That You?Norman, Is That You? is a 1970 play in two acts by American playwrights Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick about a Jewish couple coming to terms with their son's homosexuality. The work is notably the first play written by both writers. After 19 preview performances, the play officially opened on Broadway...
(with Sam BobrickSam BobrickSam Bobrick is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the television programs Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell and for his numerous plays, many of which were co-authored with Ron Clark.-Biography:After an almost four year stint in the U.S...
) (1970) (Stage) - The SinglesThe SinglesThe Singles may refer to:*The Singles: The First Ten Years by ABBA*Basement Jaxx: The Singles by Basement Jaxx*Bikini Kill:The Singles by Bikini Kill*Singles 93-03 by The Chemical BrothersThe Singles...
(with Sam BobrickSam BobrickSam Bobrick is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the television programs Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell and for his numerous plays, many of which were co-authored with Ron Clark.-Biography:After an almost four year stint in the U.S...
) (1972) (TV) - This Week in Nemtim (with Sam BobrickSam BobrickSam Bobrick is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the television programs Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell and for his numerous plays, many of which were co-authored with Ron Clark.-Biography:After an almost four year stint in the U.S...
, Saul Turteltaub and Bernie Orenstein) (1972) (TV) - The Paul Lynde ShowThe Paul Lynde ShowThe Paul Lynde Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC. The series stars Paul Lynde and aired from September 13, 1972 to September 8, 1973.-Setting:...
(1972) (TV) - No Hard Feelings (with Sam BobrickSam BobrickSam Bobrick is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the television programs Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell and for his numerous plays, many of which were co-authored with Ron Clark.-Biography:After an almost four year stint in the U.S...
) (1973) (Stage) - Hot l BaltimoreHot l BaltimoreHot l Baltimore was a short-lived 1975 television situation comedy series adapted from the hit off-Broadway play by Lanford Wilson.-Premise and run:...
(1975) (TV) - Silent MovieSilent MovieSilent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
(with Mel BrooksMel BrooksMel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
, Barry LevinsonBarry LevinsonBarry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
and Rudy De LucaRudy De LucaRudy De Luca is an American screenwriter and actor best known for his work with filmmaker Mel Brooks.-As Writer:*The Carol Burnett Show *The Tim Conway Show *The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine...
) (1976) - Norman, Is That You?Norman, Is That You?Norman, Is That You? is a 1970 play in two acts by American playwrights Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick about a Jewish couple coming to terms with their son's homosexuality. The work is notably the first play written by both writers. After 19 preview performances, the play officially opened on Broadway...
(with Sam BobrickSam BobrickSam Bobrick is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the television programs Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell and for his numerous plays, many of which were co-authored with Ron Clark.-Biography:After an almost four year stint in the U.S...
and George SchlatterGeorge SchlatterGeorge Schlatter is an American television producer and director, best known for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and founder of the American Comedy Awards....
) (1977) - High AnxietyHigh AnxietyHigh Anxiety is a 1977 comedy film produced and directed by Mel Brooks, who also plays the lead. This is Brooks' first film as a producer and first "speaking" lead role...
(with Mel BrooksMel BrooksMel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
, Barry LevinsonBarry LevinsonBarry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
and Rudy De LucaRudy De LucaRudy De Luca is an American screenwriter and actor best known for his work with filmmaker Mel Brooks.-As Writer:*The Carol Burnett Show *The Tim Conway Show *The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine...
) (1977) - Revenge of the Pink PantherRevenge of the Pink PantherRevenge of the Pink Panther is the sixth film in the Pink Panther film series. Released in 1978, Revenge of was the last entry featuring series star Peter Sellers, who died in 1980...
(with Blake EdwardsBlake EdwardsBlake Edwards was an American film director, screenwriter and producer.Edwards' career began in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon turned to writing radio scripts at Columbia Pictures...
and Frank WaldmanFrank WaldmanFrank Waldman was an American screenwriter who frequently worked with Blake Edwards and his brother Tom Waldman.Waldman was born in Chicago, Illinois...
) (1978) - Murder at the Howard Johnson'sMurder at the Howard Johnson'sMurder at the Howard Johnson's is a 1979 play in two acts by American playwrights Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick. The production officially opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre after 10 preview performances on May 17, 1979; closing just three days later after only 4 more performances. The...
(with Sam BobrickSam BobrickSam Bobrick is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the television programs Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell and for his numerous plays, many of which were co-authored with Ron Clark.-Biography:After an almost four year stint in the U.S...
) (1979) (Stage) - Wally's CafeWally's CafeWally's Cafe located in the South End of Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest continually operating jazz club in the United States. It has been home to talent from the greater Boston area including many coming from the nearby Berklee College of Music....
(with Sam BobrickSam BobrickSam Bobrick is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for creating the television programs Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell and for his numerous plays, many of which were co-authored with Ron Clark.-Biography:After an almost four year stint in the U.S...
) (1981) (Stage) - E/RE/RE/R is an American television sitcom that aired in 1984 and 1985. Developed from a successful play of the same name, the series was produced by Embassy Television and lasted a single season.-Synopsis:...
(1985) (TV) - Silver SpoonsSilver SpoonsSilver Spoons is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982 to May 11, 1986 and in first-run syndication from September 15, 1986 to March 4, 1987...
(1985-1987) (TV) - The World According to Me (1986) (Stage)
- The Van Dyke ShowThe Van Dyke ShowThe Van Dyke Show is a short-lived 1988 U.S. situation comedy, starring Dick Van Dyke. It was cancelled after one season due to low ratings, possibly due to competition from the Top 20 hits Growing Pains on ABC and the first half of Unsolved Mysteries on NBC.The series marked the first time...
(1988) (TV) - MoonlightingMoonlighting (TV series)Moonlighting is an American television series that aired on ABC from March 3, 1985, to May 14, 1989. The network aired a total of 66 episodes...
(1989) (TV) - Life StinksLife StinksLife Stinks is a 1991 comedy-drama directed by and starring Mel Brooks. It is known as one of the few Mel Brooks comedies that is not a parody, nor at any time does the film break the fourth wall. It co-stars Lesley Ann Warren, Howard Morris and Jeffrey Tambor...
(1991) (Story Only) - The Man in the Family (1991) (TV)
- Baby TalkBaby TalkBaby Talk is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from March 8, 1991 until May 8, 1992 as part of ABC's TGIF lineup. The show was loosely based on the popular Look Who's Talking movie series and was adapted for television by Ed. Weinberger...
(1991) (TV)