Gary David Goldberg

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2009) (Find sources: Gary David Goldberg – news, books, scholar)

This article needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (May 2009)

Gary David Goldberg (born June 25, 1944) is a United States writer and producer for television and film. Goldberg is best known for his work on Family Ties (1982–1989), Spin City (1996–2002), and his semi-autobiographical series Brooklyn Bridge (1991–1993).

Background

Gary David Goldberg was born on June 25, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. He studied at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and San Diego State University, ultimately deciding to become a writer. In 1969, he met the woman who would become his wife, Diana Meehan. They founded and ran a day care center in Berkeley, California, during the 1970s.^[1]

Career

Gary started his showbiz career while living in Israel in 1972, landing the lead role of scooterman in the language teaching show The adventures of scooterman. His first "real job" not in front of the camera ^[1] came in 1976, when he became a writer for CBS's the The Bob Newhart Show. This was followed by The Tony Randall Show and later CBS's Lou Grant, for which he was also producer.^[1]

Ubu Productions' logo and mascot dog.

In 1981, he formed his own company, Ubu Productions (named after his dog). In 1982, he created Family Ties which ran for seven years. The show was based on the experiences he shared with his wife and family of hippie parents raising children in the 1980s.^[2] He later produced Brooklyn Bridge and Spin City. In 1989, he produced Dad, starring Jack Lemmon, Ted Danson, and Olympia Dukakis. This film was followed by Bye Bye Love and Must Love Dogs. He received numerous^[vague] awards for his work.^[1]

Controversy

Tracy Keenan Wynn and more than 150 other television writers over age 40 went to court with AARP as their co-counsel in a far-reaching series of 23 class action lawsuits that charge Hollywood's television industry — networks, studios, talent agencies and production companies — with age discrimination. The most famous industry quote cited in the case came from Gary David Goldberg, who told TV Guide his program had "no writers on the set over the age of 29—by design."^[3]

On January 6, 2009, the superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles granted final approval to a consent decree resolving age discrimination claims asserted against defendants International Creative Management, Inc. ICM and Broder Kurland Webb Agency. The consent decree effected a full and final of the class claims, including all individual claims subsumed in the cases. Under the terms of the consent decree, defendants ICM and BKW have paid the sum of four and one-half million dollars ($4,500,000.00) into a settlement fund.^[4]

Further reading

• Goldberg, Gary David. "Comedy Stop: What Would Alex Keaton Do?." New York Times, March 3, 2008.
• Goldberg, Gary David. Sit, Ubu, Sit: How I Went from Brooklyn to Hollywood with the Same Woman, the Same Dog, and a Lot Less Hair. Harmony, 2008.[1]

References

External links

• GaryDavidGoldberg.com – official website
• Gary David Goldberg at the Internet Movie Database