Gary David Goldberg

Gary David Goldberg was an award-winning television creator/writer/producer responsible for some of the most successful family-centered TV series of late 20th century, including the long-running "Family Ties" (NBC, 1982-89). Goldberg entered the industry as a writer on "The Bob Newhart Show" in 1976 and wrote and later became a producer of "The Tony Randall Show." He wrote and produced the CBS dramatic series "Lou Grant" before making his feature debut as producer/director/screenwriter of an adaptation of William Wharton's sentimental family drama "Dad" (1989). Goldberg later received critical acclaim, if not enduring ratings success, for his warm, offbeat portrait of a Jewish family in another situation comedy/drama, "Brooklyn Bridge" (CBS, 1991-93). Goldberg returned to features as co-screenwriter (with Brad Hall) and producer (with Hall and Sam Weisman) of "Bye Bye Love" (1995), a middling comic look at the effects of divorce on three men in their thirties. Returning to series TV, Goldberg served as co-creator and one of the executive producers of "Spin City" (ABC, 1996-2002) on which he reteamed with "Family Ties" star Michael J. Fox. Goldberg founded and served as chair of Ubu Productions, which has overseen shows including "Family Ties." Ubu Productions entered into a four-year, multi-million-dollar production deal with DreamWorks SKG to provide both feature films and TV shows. The first venture under this agreement was the short-lived ABC sitcom "Champs" (1996). Following the end of "Spin City" in 2002, Goldberg went on to write, produce and direct the easygoing romantic comedy "Must Love Dogs" (2005), starring John Cusack and Diane Lane. He died in 2013 at age 68 of brain cancer, remembered as a good-natured and much-loved figure in film and television.