Bob Brunner
Bob Brunner | |
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Born | Robert Brunner August 3, 1934 Northridge, California , U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Screenwriter, film producer, television producer |
Robert Brunner (August 3, 1934 – October 28, 2012) was an American screenwriter, film producer, and television producer. He frequently collaborated in film and television with
Life and career
Early life
Brunner was born on August 3, 1934, in New York City.
Film and television career
During the 1970s, Brunner began a career in television, teaming with longtime friend Garry Marshall as a scriptwriter and television producer.[1][3] Brunner wrote for The Odd Couple, which Marshall was executive producing at the time.[3] Brunner also worked on Marshall's Laverne & Shirley and Blansky's Beauties, which premiered in 1977 and was soon cancelled.[3]
Brunner joined the production staff of Happy Days. He produced thirty-seven episodes of Happy Days and wrote or co-wrote fifteen episodes.[3] He became an integral member of the production staff, including stints as its showrunner.[3]
Notably, Brunner contributed to American popular culture by creating the nickname "Fonzie" for Henry Winkler's iconic character, Arthur Fonzarelli, who was originally just a minor player on the show.[1] Brunner also created Fonzie's iconic phrase, "Sit on it," used by Fonzie as a comeback on the show.[3] Fonzie, and his catchphrase, made Happy Days the number one show in the United States at the time.[3]
More infamously, Brunner also wrote the 1977 Happy Days
Happy Days writer Fred Fox Jr. later wrote about the origin of "jump the shark" and the episode in an article published in the Los Angeles Times in September 2010: "My friend Brian Levant, then a talented new member of the writing staff, believes that Garry Marshall, the show's co-creator and executive producer, and Bob Brunner, the showrunner at the time, made the suggestion. But what I definitely remember is that no one protested vehemently; not one of us said, 'Fonzie, jump a shark? Are you out of your mind?"[3]
In 1979, Brunner co-created (with
Brunner continued to collaborate with friend, Garry Marshall, on several of Marshall's films. He co-wrote the script for Marshall's 1999 romantic comedy, The Other Sister, starring Juliette Lewis and Giovanni Ribisi.[1] He also contributed to Marshall's Frankie and Johnny in 1991 (In which Brunner also appeared on screen in a small role),[3] Exit to Eden in 1994, and The Princess Diaries in 2001.[1]
Death
Bob Brunner died of a heart attack near his residence in
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Bob Brunner, 'Happy Days' writer, dies". Variety. November 8, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ a b "Bob Brunner, 'Happy Days' writer and producer, dies aged 78". Digital Spy. November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Barnes, Mike (November 7, 2012). "'Happy Days' Writer-Producer Bob Brunner Dies at 78". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
External links
- Bob Brunner at IMDb