American screenwriter
Ed. Weinberger (left) with First Lady Betty Ford and Mary Tyler Moore in 1975
Edwin B. "Ed. " Weinberger is an American screenwriter and television producer .
Life and career
Born in Philadelphia ,[ 1] the only son of Jewish butcher Leon and his wife Helen Weinberger,[ 2] Weinberger began his TV career after he dropped out of Columbia University ,[ 2] worked for such stand-up comedians as Dick Gregory , Richard Pryor , and Bill Cosby . His first job in television was writing for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson . He also wrote for The Bob Hope Special , The Bill Cosby Show , and The Dean Martin Variety Hour .
Weinberger, along with James L. Brooks , David Davis , Allan Burns , and Stan Daniels , formed the core of MTM Enterprises . In 1977, they left for Paramount Pictures and started the John Charles Walters Company . Weinberger also played Mr. Walters in the logo. The series Taxi was created the following year. He also wrote and co-created The Cosby Show , which ran for eight years. Weinberger went on to create and executive produce several other sitcoms, including Amen , Mr. President , Dear John , Baby Talk , and Sparks . In 1985, he became president of television production company Carson Productions , replacing John J. McMahon.[ 3]
Weinberger has won a Peabody Award , three Golden Globe Awards , and nine Emmy Awards . He has also received the Writers Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award.
He has been married to TV actress Carlene Watkins since 1984. With his son, Jack, Weinberger wrote and produced the musical play Mary and Joseph , which had a national tour in 2007–08.
Weinberger explained in 2000 that he began using the abbreviation "Ed." when he was eight years old, admitting that "it's an affectation that's gotten out of hand."[ 1]
In 2012, he sued two former business managers, claiming they had failed to obtain revenue for him from his work on Amen .[ 4] His case was dismissed in 2013 by the Los Angeles Superior Court , but that decision was overturned in 2015 by the appellate court.[ 4]
Accolades
Year
Association
Category
Work
Result
1973
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Comedy Series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Nominated
1974
Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards
Episodic Comedy
The Mary Tyler Moore Show : "The Lars Affair"
Nominated
1975
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Comedy Series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Won
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show : "Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?"
Won
Writers Guild of America Awards
Episodic Comedy
Nominated
1976
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Comedy Series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Won
1977
Won
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
The Mary Tyler Moore Show : "The Last Show "
Won
1978
Writers Guild of America Awards
Episodic Comedy
Nominated
1979
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Comedy Series
Taxi
Won
1980
Won
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
The Associates : "The Censors"
Nominated
1981
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Comedy Series
Taxi
Won
Writers Guild of America Awards
Episodic Comedy
The Associates : "The Censors"
Nominated
1982
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Comedy Series
Taxi
Nominated
1983
Nominated
1985
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
The Cosby Show : "Pilot "
Won
References
External links
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
International National Artists