Irma May <I>Ginsberg</I> Kalish

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Irma May Ginsberg Kalish

Birth
Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA
Death
3 Sep 2021 (aged 96)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Burial
Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles County, California, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Pioneering TV Writer-Producer & One Of First Women In Film Presidents Was 96

Irma Kalish, one of television's first female producers whose writing and producing credits with her husband and writing partner include the Norman Lear series Maude, All in the Family and Good Times as well as My Favorite Martian, My Three Sons, Gilligan's Island, I Dream of Jeannie, The Bob Newhart Show and Too Close for Comfort, died September 3 in Woodland Hills, CA due to complications from pneumonia. She was 96.

Kalish, born Irma May Ginsberg in New York City, was also a vice president and longtime board member of the WGA West, receiving the writers guild's Valentine Davies Award and Morgan Cox Award. She also was one of the first presidents of Women In Film, and the recipient of that organization's Founders Award. Kalish also spent 27 years on the board of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

As a writing duo, Kalish and her husband Austin "Rocky" Kalish began their careers writing for The Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Radio Show, following them to TV. The Kalishes were in demand for the next three decades, compiling head writing and producing credits that also included Family Affair, F-Troop and The King and I.

Among their work, the duo wrote the two-part Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma" in 1972 about Maude contemplating an abortion. A year later, they penned All in the Family episodes about Edith's breast cancer scare and Gloria being sexually assaulted.

As a solo writer-producer, Irma Kalish executive produced 24 episodes and also wrote on Good Times, and wrote and produced Valerie, Oh Madeline, The Hogan Family, 227 and The Facts of Life. She also wrote the 1985 TV movie I Dream of Jeannie… 15 Years Later.

Irma and Rocky were married for 68 years until Rocky's death in 2016.

Kalish is survived by her sister, Harriet Alef; son, comedy writer-producer Bruce Kalish and his wife Leah; grandchildren Matthew Biederman Sr. and his wife Cassie Fink, writer-producer Mackenzie Kalish; and great-grandchildren Nicholas and Caden Biederman.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the MPTF. A memorial service will be announced.

source: News Express
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Irma May Kalish was a prolific American television producer and screenwriter who held a pioneering role as a woman in the TV industry. Kalish produced and wrote for television programs, including Too Close for Comfort, All in the Family, The Facts of Life, Good Times, The Hogan Family, Maude, I Dream of Jeannie, F Troop and Family Affair. She is known for writing the episode of Maude where Maude gets an abortion

Kalish was married to Austin "Rocky" Kalish from 1948 to his death in 2016. The couple met when they were young kids in the Bronx. Kalish was Rocky's sister's friend. They had a son, comedy writer Bruce Kalish, and a daughter, Nancy Biederman, who pre-deceased Kalish.

Kalish died on September 3, 2021 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund cottages in Woodland Hills, California, at the age of 96 from complications of pneumonia.

source: wikipedia
Pioneering TV Writer-Producer & One Of First Women In Film Presidents Was 96

Irma Kalish, one of television's first female producers whose writing and producing credits with her husband and writing partner include the Norman Lear series Maude, All in the Family and Good Times as well as My Favorite Martian, My Three Sons, Gilligan's Island, I Dream of Jeannie, The Bob Newhart Show and Too Close for Comfort, died September 3 in Woodland Hills, CA due to complications from pneumonia. She was 96.

Kalish, born Irma May Ginsberg in New York City, was also a vice president and longtime board member of the WGA West, receiving the writers guild's Valentine Davies Award and Morgan Cox Award. She also was one of the first presidents of Women In Film, and the recipient of that organization's Founders Award. Kalish also spent 27 years on the board of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

As a writing duo, Kalish and her husband Austin "Rocky" Kalish began their careers writing for The Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Radio Show, following them to TV. The Kalishes were in demand for the next three decades, compiling head writing and producing credits that also included Family Affair, F-Troop and The King and I.

Among their work, the duo wrote the two-part Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma" in 1972 about Maude contemplating an abortion. A year later, they penned All in the Family episodes about Edith's breast cancer scare and Gloria being sexually assaulted.

As a solo writer-producer, Irma Kalish executive produced 24 episodes and also wrote on Good Times, and wrote and produced Valerie, Oh Madeline, The Hogan Family, 227 and The Facts of Life. She also wrote the 1985 TV movie I Dream of Jeannie… 15 Years Later.

Irma and Rocky were married for 68 years until Rocky's death in 2016.

Kalish is survived by her sister, Harriet Alef; son, comedy writer-producer Bruce Kalish and his wife Leah; grandchildren Matthew Biederman Sr. and his wife Cassie Fink, writer-producer Mackenzie Kalish; and great-grandchildren Nicholas and Caden Biederman.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the MPTF. A memorial service will be announced.

source: News Express
_________________________________
Irma May Kalish was a prolific American television producer and screenwriter who held a pioneering role as a woman in the TV industry. Kalish produced and wrote for television programs, including Too Close for Comfort, All in the Family, The Facts of Life, Good Times, The Hogan Family, Maude, I Dream of Jeannie, F Troop and Family Affair. She is known for writing the episode of Maude where Maude gets an abortion

Kalish was married to Austin "Rocky" Kalish from 1948 to his death in 2016. The couple met when they were young kids in the Bronx. Kalish was Rocky's sister's friend. They had a son, comedy writer Bruce Kalish, and a daughter, Nancy Biederman, who pre-deceased Kalish.

Kalish died on September 3, 2021 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund cottages in Woodland Hills, California, at the age of 96 from complications of pneumonia.

source: wikipedia


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