Sherwood Schwartz

Sherwood Schwartz
Schwartz receiving his star on theHollywood Walk of Fame(2008)
Born	Sherwood Charles Schwartz (1916-11-14)November 14, 1916 Passaic, New Jersey,U.S.
Died	July 12, 2011(2011-07-12)(aged 94) Los Angeles, California,U.S.
Resting place	Hillside Memorial Park,Culver City, California
Occupations	Television producer Radio and television screenwriter
Years active	1938–2011
Spouse	Mildred Seidman ​ (m.1941)​
Children	4, includingLloyd
Awards	Hollywood Walk of Fame

Sherwood Charles Schwartz(/ʃwɔːrts/;November 14, 1916 – July 12, 2011) was an American televisionscreenwriterand producer. He worked onradio showsin the 1940s, but he now is best known for creating the 1960stelevision seriesGilligan's IslandonCBSandThe Brady BunchonABC.On March 7, 2008, Schwartz, at the time still active in his 90s, was honored with a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.That same year, Schwartz was also inducted into theTelevision Hall of Fame.

Early life

Schwartz was born inPassaic, New Jersey,to aJewishfamily.His parents were Herman and Rose Schwartz. He was a younger brother of writerAl Schwartz.His younger brother,Elroy Schwartz(1923–2013), a comedy writer, became a principal screenwriter forGilligan's Islandand other series.Sherwood Schwartz is the uncle ofDouglas Schwartz(who created theBaywatchTV series), Bruce Schwartz and Judithe Randall.

Career

Schwartz had hoped to become a doctor, but found that he was unable to be admitted to medical school at that time, due to a quota limiting the number of Jewish students.

He went on to write forOzzie Nelson'sThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harrietand other radio shows. Schwartz served in the United States Army for over four years. While serving, he was a writer on theArmed Forces Radio Networkbefore he got his break in television. From 1956 to 1962, Schwartz was head writer forThe Red Skelton Show,for which he won an Emmy Award in 1961. He went on to create and produceGilligan's IslandandThe Brady Bunch.He wrote the theme song for three of his shows:Gilligan's Island(co-wrote),It's About Time,andThe Brady Bunch.

Syndication turned his two major successes into TV institutions with cultural relevance. He made them icons and as a result became a television icon himself.

TV appearances

During the late 1990s and the 2000s, he made many appearances on TV talking about his series, on shows such as theCBS Evening News,20/20,TV Land's Top TenandA&E'sBiography.He also took part in a "Creators" marathon onNick at Nitein the late 1990s.He was also a guest at the 2004TV Land Awards.

In 1988, Schwartz appeared onThe Late Show with Ross Shaferfor aGilligan's Islandreunion, along with all seven castaways fromGilligan's Island.This was the last time they were all together on television. He also appeared as himself in a 1995 episode ofRoseannetitled "Sherwood Schwartz, A Loving Tribute", which also featured the four surviving "Gilligan's Island" cast members.

Personal life

On December 21, 1941, Sherwood Schwartz married Mildred Seidman, and together they had four children: Donald Schwartz, who became an ophthalmologist;Lloyd J. Schwartz,who worked with his father in show business as a writer and producer in his own right; Ross Schwartz, who became an attorney; and Hope Juber, a writer and producer. His granddaughter is singer-songwriterIlsey Juber,the daughter of Hope and guitaristLaurence Juber,the former lead guitarist for the bandWings.

Sherwood Schwartz's play,Rockers,a comedy-drama, had a production atTheatre Westin honor of his 90th birthday.

Death

On July 12, 2011, Sherwood Schwartz died of natural causes in his sleep.

Portrayals

Schwartz was portrayed byAaron Lustigin the TV movieSurviving Gilligan's Islandand byMichael TuckerinGrowing Up Brady.

Filmography

Schwartz produced a number of radio and TV shows during his career.

Series	Years	Job
The Bob Hope Show	1938–1942	Writer for radio version
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet	1940s	Writer for radio version
The Alan Young Show	1940s	Writer for radio version
I Married Joan	1952–1955	Writer
The Red Skelton Show	1956–1962	Writer
My Favorite Martian	1963	Script supervisor
Gilligan's Island	1964–1967	Writer, creator, producer
It's About Time	1966–1967	Writer, creator, producer
The Brady Bunch	1969–1974	Writer, creator, producer
Dusty's Trail	1973–1974	Writer, creator, producer
Big John, Little John	1976	Producer
Harper Valley PTA	1981–1982	Writer, producer
Together We Stand	1986–1987	Writer, producer

Stage productions

In 1990, he wroteGilligan's Island: The Musical,still in production as of 2011. His sonLloyd,daughter Hope, and son-in-lawLaurence Juberworked on the play as well.

On November 10, 2006, his playRockersopened inTheatre Westin California. The play concerns the lives of three women living in a retirement home. The cast includedPat Crawford Brown,Lee Meriwether,andElsa Raven.

Unsold pilots

He wrote and executive produced two unsold television pilots:

• Scamps(1982)—starringBob Denver,Dreama Denver, andJoey Lawrence
• The Invisible Woman(1983)—starring Alexa Hamilton, Bob Denver, andHarvey Korman

Awards

• Won the 1961Emmy Awardfor his writing onThe Red Skelton Show.
• Was nominated for aDaytime Emmyfor his 2004 specialStill Brady After All These Years
• On March 7, 2008, he received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.ActressesDawn WellsandFlorence Henderson,who appeared inGilligan's IslandandThe Brady Bunch,respectively, accompanied Schwartz when he received his star. Also present was Patrick Denver, son of actorBob DenverfromGilligan's Island,andChristopher KnightandSusan Olsen,the child stars ofThe Brady Bunch.
• Was also inducted into theTelevision Hall of Famein 2008.

External links

• Sherwood Schwartz in The Comedy Hall of Fame Archives
• An interview from 2011 with Sherwood Schwartz
• Sherwood SchwartzatIMDb
• Signature of Sherwood Schwartz fromHere on Gilligan's Isle
• Sherwood SchwartzatThe Interviews: An Oral History of Television
• Sherwood SchwartzatFind a Grave