Language English Role Writer Name Jerry Belson | Notable awards Emmy Awards Nationality American | |
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Born July 8, 1938 ( 1938-07-08 ) Genre Film writer; Television writer Spouse Jo Ann Belson (m. 1976–2006), Viviann Flogell (m. 1959–1968) Children Kristine Belson, Willi Belson, Julie Belson Siblings Monica Johnson, Gordon Belson Movies Jekyll and Hyde Together, Close Encounters of the Thir, Surrender, Fun with Dick and Jane, Smokey and the Bandit II Similar People Garry Marshall, Hal Barwood, Mark Blankfield, Jerry Paris, David Giler | ||
Jerry Belson - Screenwriter
Jerry Belson (July 8, 1938 – October 10, 2006) was a writer, director, and producer of Hollywood films for over forty years.
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Career
Belson's writing credits include the Steven Spielberg films Always and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, several episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and I Spy. During the early 1960s, concurrent with contributing scripts for TV sitcoms with then writing partner Garry Marshall, Belson did stories for Gold Key Comics. Belson also helped produce The Drew Carey Show, The Norm Show and The Tracey Ullman Show.
In the TV Land 2006 documentary The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases, Lowell Ganz credits Belson with including in the script of the season 3 Odd Couple episode "My Strife in Court" (originally aired Friday February 16, 1973) the catch-phrase "Never ASSUME, because when you ASSUME, you make an ASS of U and ME." Ganz noted Belson had heard it used years ago by a teacher in a typewriter repair class.
He won three Emmy Awards: for the Tracy Ullman Show in 1989 and 1990, and for “Tracey Takes On...” in 1997.
Belson died in Los Angeles, California on October 10, 2006, after a long battle with prostate cancer. His sister, screenwriter Monica Johnson, died on November 1, 2010.