Jack Hanrahan
Encyclopedia
Jack Hanrahan was an American
Emmy Award
-winning comedy writer.
, he began writing cartoons for the Cleveland Press
. After that, he moved on to Hollywood, California and continued his writing career with work on Get Smart
. Then, in 1968, he won an Emmy for his work on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
. Following this, he moved on to Marcus Welby, M.D.
, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, Police Woman
, The Waltons
, and CHiPs
. In the 1980s and '90s, he worked on a scattering of television shows and movies, including co-writing the Super Mario World
episode "The Wheel Thing" and serving as a main writer for the second season (1985–86) of the cartoon series Inspector Gadget
. Hanrahan teamed-up for a while with Eleanor Burian-Mohr and wrote for many animation shows. He also co-starred in the motion picture 'Up Your Alley' in 1988 for writer/director, Bob Logan.
Hanrahan left Beverly Hills
for Eureka
in northern California in 1992. Following a garage fire, however, he was evicted, and all of his possessions were seized by the landlord, including his Emmy. After losing his wife in 2004, he began to wander the streets. Jack Riley, an old friend, tried to help Hanrahan, but was unsuccessful. After friends in Eureka bought him a bus ticket, he came back to his hometown of Cleveland, where he had been homeless until his death.
Hanrahan was featured on the front page of the The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio
) on March 22, 2007, detailing his homelessness.
He died on April 28, 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning comedy writer.
Biography
Born in Cleveland, OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, he began writing cartoons for the Cleveland Press
Cleveland Press
The Cleveland Press was a daily American newspaper published in Cleveland, Ohio from November 2, 1878, through June 17, 1982. From 1928 to 1966, the paper's editor was Louis Seltzer....
. After that, he moved on to Hollywood, California and continued his writing career with work on Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
. Then, in 1968, he won an Emmy for his work on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In is an American sketch comedy television program which ran for 140 episodes from January 22, 1968, to May 14, 1973. It was hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin and was broadcast over NBC...
. Following this, he moved on to Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell...
, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, Police Woman
Police Woman (TV series)
Police Woman is an American television police drama starring Angie Dickinson that ran on NBC for four seasons, from September 13, 1974, to March 29, 1978.-Synopsis:...
, The Waltons
The Waltons
The Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
, and CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
. In the 1980s and '90s, he worked on a scattering of television shows and movies, including co-writing the Super Mario World
Super Mario World (TV series)
Super Mario World was a short-lived animated television series loosely based on the Super NES video game of the same name. It was the third and thus far last Saturday morning cartoon based on the Super Mario Bros. NES and Super NES series of video games...
episode "The Wheel Thing" and serving as a main writer for the second season (1985–86) of the cartoon series Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget is an animated television series that revolves around the adventures of a clumsy, simple-witted cyborg detective named Inspector Gadget – a human being with various bionic gadgets built into his body. Gadget's arch-nemesis is Dr...
. Hanrahan teamed-up for a while with Eleanor Burian-Mohr and wrote for many animation shows. He also co-starred in the motion picture 'Up Your Alley' in 1988 for writer/director, Bob Logan.
Hanrahan left Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
for Eureka
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
in northern California in 1992. Following a garage fire, however, he was evicted, and all of his possessions were seized by the landlord, including his Emmy. After losing his wife in 2004, he began to wander the streets. Jack Riley, an old friend, tried to help Hanrahan, but was unsuccessful. After friends in Eureka bought him a bus ticket, he came back to his hometown of Cleveland, where he had been homeless until his death.
Hanrahan was featured on the front page of the The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
) on March 22, 2007, detailing his homelessness.
He died on April 28, 2008.