Ron Leavitt
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| Ron Leavitt | |
| Born | Ronald Leavitt November 7, 1947 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
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| Died | February 10, 2008 (aged 60) Sherman Oaks, California, United States |
| Cause of death | Lung Cancer |
| Occupation | Television Producer |
| Children | Matt, Samantha |
Ron Leavitt (November 7, 1947 – February 10, 2008[1]) was the co-creator (with Michael G. Moye) of the American television show Married... with Children. The show's 259 episodes over 11 seasons made it the second-longest-lasting sitcom on the FOX network, just behind what Leavitt considered the greatest television show of all time: The Simpsons. He died on February 10, 2008 from lung cancer at the age of 60.
A native of Brooklyn, Leavitt began his television career in the 1970s writing episodes for the comedies “Busting Loose,” “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley” and “The Bad News Bears” (for which he garnered an NAACP Award). In the early 1980s, in addition to writing and producing “The Jeffersons” (for which he won a People’s Choice Award and a second NAACP Award), Leavitt co-wrote the pilot for “Silver Spoons” and co-created and executive produced the Jason Bateman sitcom “It’s Your Move.”
In the late 80s, Leavitt co-created “Married With Children,” which, with its debut on the Fox network in 1987, broke many of the established rules and mores of television. He served as executive producer and wrote or co-wrote close to 150 episodes. Its longevity over eleven seasons made “Married With Children” the second-longest-running sitcom on Fox, just behind “The Simpsons.” Among its industry honors, “Married With Children” earned seven Emmy nominations and an equal number of Golden Globe nominations, including Best TV Series.
The popular show became a springboard for Leavitt to create a number of spin-offs, initially “Top of the Heap,” starring Matt LeBlanc and Joseph Bologna, and “Vinnie & Bobby,” starring Matt LeBlanc and Robert Torti. He would subsequently co-create, executive produce and write “Unhappily Ever After,” which earned a loyal following for more than five seasons on the WB. In more recent years Leavitt created and wrote several episodes of the WB’s “The Help.”
Other achievements outside the realm of television include recognition by the State of California as “Citizen Hero of the Year” in 2001, and the equally notable accomplishment of out-eating wrestler King Kong Bundy in a cheesesteak sandwich-eating contest at Dominick's Kitchen while Bundy was guest starring on “Married With Children.” He had two children, Matt and Samantha. He is also survived by his long time partner Jessica Hahn.
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