Martin Cohan
Encyclopedia
Martin "Marty" Cohan was a television producer
and writer. Cohan co-created the sitcom, Who's the Boss?
, which aired on ABC
from 1984 until 1992, with business partner, Blake Hunter
. Cohan is also credited with creating Silver Spoons
, which ran on NBC
from 1982 to 1987 and launched the career of actor Rick Schroder
.
, on July 4, 1932. He was also a descendant of the Biblical Aaron
and a Conservative Jew. . He received a bachelor's degree
in theater arts from Stanford University
in 1955.
at the American Broadcasting Company
(ABC) following his graduation from Stanford University. He worked in film and documentaries during this stage in his career, including for director Mike Nichols
in the 1970 film, Catch-22
. Cohan created a documentary called The Children of Paris before taking a position in a documentary firm owned by David L. Wolper
. Cohan's work as a writer and researcher for the documentaries, Hollywood and the Stars
in 1963 and Let My People Go: The Story of Israel
in 1965 also led to a job working in Univerisal Television's documentary department.
Cohan transitioned to writing for sitcoms, including All in the Family
and the Odd Couple
, during the 1970s. In 1971, Cohan achieved professional recognition as an assistant director on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
. He was awarded the best comedy
episode award from the Writers Guild of America
for his screenwriting
on the show in 1972. Cohan was also the recipient of an NAACP award for furthering interracial understanding during the 1970s. After leaving The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cohan directed, produced and wrote for The Bob Newhart Show
.
In the early 1980s, Cohan co-created Who's the Boss? with business partner, Blake Hunter
. The successful sitcom, starring Tony Danza
, Judith Light
, Alyssa Milano
, Danny Pintauro
and Katherine Helmond
, ran from 1984 to 1992. Cohan and Hunter also worked as creative consultants for the British television series, The Upper Hand
. The Upper Hand, a British television adaptation of Who's the Boss?
, debuted in 1990 and aired for seven seasons on ITV
.
Cohan also penned scripts for episodes of numerous other television shows, including Silver Spoons
and Diff'rent Strokes
.
Martin Cohan died at his home in Pacific Palisades, California, of large-cell lymphoma on May 19, 2010, at the age of 77. He was survived by his wife, Dawn, a son, a daughter, two stepchildren, a step-grandson, and a sister. His memorial service was held at Mt. Sinai's Chapel Tenach in Forest Lawn.
Cohan's longtime business partner, Blake Hunter, was quoted in Variety: "Marty is the brother I wish I had, the talent I stood in awe of, and the friend I can never replace."
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and writer. Cohan co-created the sitcom, Who's the Boss?
Who's the Boss?
Who's the Boss? is an American sitcom created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, which aired on ABC from September 20, 1984 to April 25, 1992...
, which aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from 1984 until 1992, with business partner, Blake Hunter
Blake Hunter
Blake Hunter is an American television producer and writer. He is best known as the co-creator of the sitcom, Who's the Boss?, which aired on ABC from 1984 until 1992...
. Cohan is also credited with creating Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982 to May 11, 1986 and in first-run syndication from September 15, 1986 to March 4, 1987...
, which ran on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from 1982 to 1987 and launched the career of actor Rick Schroder
Rick Schroder
Richard Bartlett "Rick" Schroder, Jr. is an American actor and film director.He debuted in the 1979 hit film The Champ, going on to become a child star on the sitcom Silver Spoons...
.
Early life
Cohan was born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, on July 4, 1932. He was also a descendant of the Biblical Aaron
Aaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
and a Conservative Jew. . He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in theater arts from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1955.
Career
Cohan began working as a stage manager and assistant directorAssistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
at the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
(ABC) following his graduation from Stanford University. He worked in film and documentaries during this stage in his career, including for director Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols is a German-born American television, stage and film director, writer, producer and comedian. He began his career in the 1950s as one half of the comedy duo Nichols and May, along with Elaine May. In 1968 he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film The Graduate...
in the 1970 film, Catch-22
Catch-22 (film)
Catch-22 is a 1970 satirical war film adapted from the book of the same name by Joseph Heller. Considered a black comedy revolving around the "lunatic characters" of Heller's satirical anti-war novel, it was the work of a talented production team which included director Mike Nichols and...
. Cohan created a documentary called The Children of Paris before taking a position in a documentary firm owned by David L. Wolper
David L. Wolper
David Lloyd Wolper was an American television and film producer, responsible for shows such as Roots, The Thorn Birds, North & South, L.A. Confidential, and the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory...
. Cohan's work as a writer and researcher for the documentaries, Hollywood and the Stars
Hollywood and the Stars
Hollywood and the Stars was a 1963 American television documentary series produced by David L. Wolper for United Artists Television that was shown on the National Broadcasting Corporation. It was narrated by Joseph Cotten with the theme music and several episodes composed by Elmer Bernstein.Each...
in 1963 and Let My People Go: The Story of Israel
Let My People Go: The Story of Israel
Let My People Go: The Story of Israel is a 1965 documentary film directed by Marshall Flaum. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1965 and won the United Nations Award in 1961 from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts...
in 1965 also led to a job working in Univerisal Television's documentary department.
Cohan transitioned to writing for sitcoms, including All in the Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
and the Odd Couple
Odd Couple
Odd Couple is a 1979 Hong Kong film directed by Lau Kar Wing , who also stars, alongside Sammo Hung. It was the first film to be released by Gar Bo Motion Picture Company , an independent production company set up by Hung, Lau and producer Karl Maka.The movie is a showcase for the different...
, during the 1970s. In 1971, Cohan achieved professional recognition as an assistant director on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977...
. He was awarded the best comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
episode award from the Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
for his screenwriting
Screenwriting
Screenwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is a freelance profession....
on the show in 1972. Cohan was also the recipient of an NAACP award for furthering interracial understanding during the 1970s. After leaving The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cohan directed, produced and wrote for The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show is an American situation comedy produced by MTM Enterprises, which aired 142 original episodes on CBS from September 16, , to April 1, . Comedian Bob Newhart portrayed a psychologist having to deal with his patients and fellow office workers...
.
In the early 1980s, Cohan co-created Who's the Boss? with business partner, Blake Hunter
Blake Hunter
Blake Hunter is an American television producer and writer. He is best known as the co-creator of the sitcom, Who's the Boss?, which aired on ABC from 1984 until 1992...
. The successful sitcom, starring Tony Danza
Tony Danza
Tony Danza is an American actor best known for starring on the TV series Taxi and Who's the Boss?, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards...
, Judith Light
Judith Light
Judith Ellen Light is an American actress. Her television roles include Karen Wolek on the soap opera One Life to Live, Angela Bower on the sitcom Who's the Boss?, Claire Meade on ABC's TV series Ugly Betty and Judge Elizabeth "Liz" Donnelly on Law & Order Special Victims Unit.-Early life:Light...
, Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Jayne Milano is an American actress and former singer, known for her childhood role as Samantha Micelli in the sitcom Who's the Boss? and an eight-year stint as Phoebe Halliwell on the series Charmed. She was also a series regular on the original Melrose Place portraying the role of...
, Danny Pintauro
Danny Pintauro
Daniel John Pintauro is an American actor best known for his role on the popular American sitcom Who's the Boss? and his role in the 1983 film Cujo.-Career:...
and Katherine Helmond
Katherine Helmond
Katherine Marie Helmond is an American film, theater and television actress, who played Emily Dickinson on Meeting of Minds, as well as such fictional characters as Jessica Tate on Soap, Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss?, Doris Sherman on Coach, and Lois Whelan on Everybody Loves...
, ran from 1984 to 1992. Cohan and Hunter also worked as creative consultants for the British television series, The Upper Hand
The Upper Hand
The Upper Hand is a sitcom, produced by Central Independent Television and broadcast by ITV from 1990 to 1996. The programme was adapted from the American sitcom Who's the Boss?....
. The Upper Hand, a British television adaptation of Who's the Boss?
Who's the Boss?
Who's the Boss? is an American sitcom created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, which aired on ABC from September 20, 1984 to April 25, 1992...
, debuted in 1990 and aired for seven seasons on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
Cohan also penned scripts for episodes of numerous other television shows, including Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982 to May 11, 1986 and in first-run syndication from September 15, 1986 to March 4, 1987...
and Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
.
Martin Cohan died at his home in Pacific Palisades, California, of large-cell lymphoma on May 19, 2010, at the age of 77. He was survived by his wife, Dawn, a son, a daughter, two stepchildren, a step-grandson, and a sister. His memorial service was held at Mt. Sinai's Chapel Tenach in Forest Lawn.
Cohan's longtime business partner, Blake Hunter, was quoted in Variety: "Marty is the brother I wish I had, the talent I stood in awe of, and the friend I can never replace."