Earl Barret, Too Close For Comfort Co-Creator, Dies at 94
Barret, who also co-wrote the 1989 film See No Evil, Hear No Evil, died of natural causes at his home in Sherman Oaks, California.
Earl Barret, the television comedy writer who co-created the sitcom Too Close For Comfort, died of natural causes at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on Thursday, October 22. He was 94.
His daughter, J.K. Barret, announced his death, according to Deadline.
Barret created Too Close For Comfort in 1980 with Brian Cooke and Arne Sultan. The series starred Ted Knight and ran for six seasons from 1980 to 1987, first on ABC and later in syndication, where it was renamed The Ted Knight Show. Barret also directed 13 episodes and served as an executive producer.
His writing career began in 1961, after he took a free weekly writing class taught by Robert C. Dennis, who later became his writing partner. That year he wrote for Sea Hunt, Hawaiian Eye and Ripcord, and in 1963 he wrote an episode of My Favorite Martian. In 1966 he wrote four Batman episodes featuring Victor Buono as King Tut.
In 1989, Barret, Sultan and Marvin Worth wrote the film See No Evil, Hear No Evil, starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder and directed by Arthur Hiller. Sultan had died in 1986.
Barret is survived by his wife, Barbara Barnett Barret, and his son, John Nelson. His daughter Lisa Nelson predeceased him.
Quick answers
How old was Earl Barret when he died?
He was 94.
What shows did Earl Barret create?
He co-created the sitcom Too Close For Comfort with Brian Cooke and Arne Sultan in 1980.
What film did Earl Barret write?
He wrote the 1989 film See No Evil, Hear No Evil with Arne Sultan and Marvin Worth.