Emmy-winning 'Dick Van Dyke Show' writer, co-creator of 'That Girl' dies

The Associated Press, Monday, July 11, 2011, 6:36am (PDT)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Emmy-winning writer Sam Denoff, who wrote for TV's "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and helped create the Marlo Thomas comedy "That Girl," has died in Los Angeles at 83.

Denoff's son Douglas tells the Los Angeles Times that his father, who had Alzheimer's disease, died Friday at home in Brentwood.

Denoff and writing partner Bill Persky had written for Steve Allen and Andy Williams television shows as well as the series "McHale's Navy" when they sold a script for "The Dick Van Dyke Show," which ran on CBS from 1961 to 1966. Persky and Denoff went on to share two Emmys for that series.

Marlo Thomas wanted the duo to write a series for her and "That Girl" was born. The ABC series ran from 1966 to 1971.