Ron Leavitt
Encyclopedia
Ron Leavitt was the co-creator (with Michael G. Moye
) of the American
television show Married... with Children
. The show's 259 episodes over eleven seasons made it the second-longest-lasting sitcom on the Fox
network.
, Happy Days
, Laverne & Shirley
and The Bad News Bears (for which he garnered an NAACP Award). In the early 1980s, in addition to writing and producing The Jeffersons
(for which he won a People’s Choice Award and a second NAACP Award), Leavitt co-wrote the pilot for Silver Spoons
and co-created and executive produced the Jason Bateman sitcom It’s Your Move.
In the late 1980s, Leavitt co-created Married... with Children, which, with its debut on the Fox network in 1987, broke many of the established rules and mores of television. He served as executive producer and wrote or co-wrote close to 150 episodes. Its longevity over eleven seasons made Married... with Children the second-longest-running sitcom on Fox, just behind The Simpsons
. Among its industry honors, Married... with Children earned seven Emmy nominations and an equal number of Golden Globe nominations, including Best TV Series.
The show became a springboard for Leavitt to create a number of spin-offs, initially Top of the Heap, starring Matt LeBlanc
and Joseph Bologna
, and Vinnie & Bobby, starring Matt LeBlanc and Robert Torti
. He would subsequently co-create, executive produce and write Unhappily Ever After
, which earned a loyal following for more than five seasons on the WB. In more recent years Leavitt created and wrote several episodes of the WB's The Help.
Other achievements outside the realm of television include recognition by the State of California as Citizen Hero of the Year in 2001, and the equally notable accomplishment of out-eating wrestler King Kong Bundy
in a cheesesteak
sandwich-eating contest at Dominick's Kitchen while Bundy was guest starring on Married... with Children. He had two children, Matt and Samantha.
He is also survived by his long-time partner Jessica Hahn
. He died on February 10, 2008 from lung cancer
.
Michael G. Moye
Michael George Moye is an American photographer and a former television writer and producer. In his television career he has written for shows such as The Jeffersons, Diff'rent Strokes, Good Times, and 227 and produced It's Your Move and The Jeffersons. His best known work is likely the 1987...
) of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television show Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
. The show's 259 episodes over eleven seasons made it the second-longest-lasting sitcom on the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
network.
Life and career
A native of Brooklyn, Leavitt began his television career in the 1970s writing episodes for the comedies Busting LooseBusting Loose
Busting Loose is the sixth album by soul singer, Peggy Scott-Adams. The album peaked at #12 on the Top Blues Albums chart. Includes the hit singles, "If You Wanna Hear Me Holler, Lick Me Up Some Dollars" and "See You Next Weekend" which was co-written by Scott-Adams.-Track listings:* 1. "If You...
, Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
, Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley is an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from January 26, 1976, to May 10, 1983...
and The Bad News Bears (for which he garnered an NAACP Award). In the early 1980s, in addition to writing and producing The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
(for which he won a People’s Choice Award and a second NAACP Award), Leavitt co-wrote the pilot for 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...
and co-created and executive produced the Jason Bateman sitcom It’s Your Move.
In the late 1980s, Leavitt co-created Married... with Children, which, with its debut on the Fox network in 1987, broke many of the established rules and mores of television. He served as executive producer and wrote or co-wrote close to 150 episodes. Its longevity over eleven seasons made Married... with Children the second-longest-running sitcom on Fox, just behind The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. Among its industry honors, Married... with Children earned seven Emmy nominations and an equal number of Golden Globe nominations, including Best TV Series.
The show became a springboard for Leavitt to create a number of spin-offs, initially Top of the Heap, starring Matt LeBlanc
Matt LeBlanc
Matthew Steven "Matt" LeBlanc is an American actor, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani on the NBC sitcoms Friends and its spin-off Joey....
and Joseph Bologna
Joseph Bologna
Joseph Bologna is an American actor.-Life and career:Bologna was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Brown University, where he majored in art history. After a hitch with the marines, Bologna was hired to produce and direct Manhattan-based TV commercials.The actor has a long history in film...
, and Vinnie & Bobby, starring Matt LeBlanc and Robert Torti
Robert Torti
Robert Felix Torti is an American actor.Torti was born in Van Nuys, California. He married DeLee Lively on June 24, 1999. Together, they have three children.-Filmography:*Quincy M.E....
. He would subsequently co-create, executive produce and write Unhappily Ever After
Unhappily Ever After
Unhappily Ever After is an American sitcom that aired for 100 episodes on The WB network from January 11, 1995, to May 23, 1999, for a total of four and a half seasons...
, which earned a loyal following for more than five seasons on the WB. In more recent years Leavitt created and wrote several episodes of the WB's The Help.
Other achievements outside the realm of television include recognition by the State of California as Citizen Hero of the Year in 2001, and the equally notable accomplishment of out-eating wrestler King Kong Bundy
King Kong Bundy
Christopher Alan "Chris" Pallies is an American professional wrestler, stand-up comedian and actor, better known by his ring name, King Kong Bundy.-Personal:...
in a cheesesteak
Cheesesteak
A cheesesteak, also known as a Philadelphia cheesesteak, Philly cheesesteak, cheese steak, or steak and cheese, is a sandwich made from thinly-sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese in a long roll...
sandwich-eating contest at Dominick's Kitchen while Bundy was guest starring on Married... with Children. He had two children, Matt and Samantha.
He is also survived by his long-time partner Jessica Hahn
Jessica Hahn
Jessica Hahn is an American model and actress. She is best known for a sex scandal involving televangelist Jim Bakker while she was employed as a church secretary.-Jim Bakker scandal:...
. He died on February 10, 2008 from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.
Filmography
- Busting LooseBusting LooseBusting Loose is the sixth album by soul singer, Peggy Scott-Adams. The album peaked at #12 on the Top Blues Albums chart. Includes the hit singles, "If You Wanna Hear Me Holler, Lick Me Up Some Dollars" and "See You Next Weekend" which was co-written by Scott-Adams.-Track listings:* 1. "If You...
(1977) - Happy DaysHappy DaysHappy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
(1978) - Brothers and SistersBrothers and Sisters (1979 TV series)Brothers and Sisters is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from January to April 1979. The series attempted to capitalize on the success of the 1978 motion picture National Lampoon's Animal House...
(1979) - Makin' ItMakin' ItMakin' It is an American sitcom starring David Naughton as a disco dancer in the late 1970s. The series only lasted nine episodes, airing on Fridays at 8:00PM on ABC from February 1 through March 23, 1979 before being canceled...
(1979) - The Bad News Bears (1979)
- Laverne & ShirleyLaverne & ShirleyLaverne & Shirley is an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from January 26, 1976, to May 10, 1983...
(1979) - 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...
(1982) - The JeffersonsThe JeffersonsThe Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
(1980-1984) - It's Your MoveIt's Your MoveIt's Your Move is an American sitcom starring Jason Bateman, Tricia Cast, Caren Kaye, Ernie Sabella, David Garrison, and Garrett Morris. The show originally aired on NBC from 1984 to 1985.-Premise:...
(1984-1985) (Co-Creator, with Michael G. MoyeMichael G. MoyeMichael George Moye is an American photographer and a former television writer and producer. In his television career he has written for shows such as The Jeffersons, Diff'rent Strokes, Good Times, and 227 and produced It's Your Move and The Jeffersons. His best known work is likely the 1987...
) - Married... with ChildrenMarried... with ChildrenMarried... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
(1987-1997) (Co-Creator, with Michael G. MoyeMichael G. MoyeMichael George Moye is an American photographer and a former television writer and producer. In his television career he has written for shows such as The Jeffersons, Diff'rent Strokes, Good Times, and 227 and produced It's Your Move and The Jeffersons. His best known work is likely the 1987...
) - Top of the HeapTop of the HeapTop of the Heap is a 1991 Fox television sitcom that was spun off from Married... with Children. Though it lasted seven episodes, it was nonetheless the most successful of three attempted Married...With Children spin-offs during the main series' run. The pilot was episode 20 of the 5th season of...
(1991) (Co-Creator, with Arthur Silver) - Vinnie & BobbyVinnie & BobbyVinnie & Bobby is an Americam sitcom that aired on Fox on Sunday night from May 30, 1992 to September 5, 1992. The series was a spin-off of the short-lived 1991 sitcom Top of the Heap, which was itself a spin-off of Married... With Children. Series star Matt LeBlanc played the character of Vinnie...
(1992) (Co-Creator, with Arthur Silver) - Unhappily Ever AfterUnhappily Ever AfterUnhappily Ever After is an American sitcom that aired for 100 episodes on The WB network from January 11, 1995, to May 23, 1999, for a total of four and a half seasons...
(1995) (Co-Creator, with Arthur Silver) - The Help (2004)
External links
- Ron Leavitt at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...