Larry Gelbart on AllMovie

Noted producer and screenwriter Larry Gelbart was best known for his television work, but he also penned the scripts for several humorous films. He started out as a radio comic and at age 16 began writing material for Danny Thomas on Fanny Brice's radio show. Before going to television in 1952, he also wrote for Eddie Cantor, Bob Hope, and Jack Parr. On television Gelbart got his start on the Red Buttons Show then went on to work with some of America's greatest comedy writers, including Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Neil Simon and Woody Allen on Your Show of Shows. In 1962, Gelbart penned his first screenplay The Notorious Landlady, but his best-known screenplay from that era is A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, on which he collaborated with Burt Shevelove. He also wrote the screenplay for Oh, God! (1977) and the smash hit Tootsie (1982). Gelbart was probably best known, however, as the producer and frequent writer for the long-running and highly distinguished comedy-drama M*A*S*H.