Bill Persky

Emmy Award-winning television writer, producer, and director Bill Persky had a storied career behind the scenes, predominantly in the 1960s and 1980s. As a young sitcom writer, he came aboard "The Dick Van Dyke Show" on CBS in 1963. He won two Emmys for co-writing specific episodes for the series, which concluded in 1966. He served as a producer for its final season. He then worked to develop a show with former writing partner Sam Denoff, entitled "That Girl," an ABC sitcom starring Marlo Thomas as an aspiring actress attempting to fulfill her dream of stardom in Manhattan. The show, which Persky also executive produced and produced, ended its five-season run in 1971. Persky produced a variety of TV specials until a new idea came along in the 1980s: "Kate & Allie" was a CBS sitcom about two childhood female friends who share a Greenwich Village apartment after their divorces. Although Persky didn't develop the show, he served as a director and producer on most episodes. He won an Emmy in its first season for directing. When the show dropped in ratings in 1989, CBS canceled it. Persky attempted to work again with "Kate & Allie" actress Jane Curtin on "Working It Out," a 1990 NBC sitcom he created. It lasted half a season and Persky retired from the business shortly afterward.