Fred S. Fox, Veteran Comedy Writer for Golden Age of Radio and Television, Dead at Age 90; Wrote for Bob Hope, George Burns, Lucille Ball

Fred S. Fox, Veteran Comedy Writer for Golden Age of Radio and Television, Dead at Age 90; Wrote for Bob Hope, George Burns, Lucille Ball

BURBANK, Calif., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Fred S. Fox, a veteran comedy writer for some of Hollywood's greatest legends, Bob Hope, George Burns, Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Lewis, has died at the age of 90. A native of St. Louis, he graduated from UC Berkeley in 1938 and remained a resident of California until his death in Encino on October 23 from pneumonia.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/LAM148 )

Fox's career spanned 50 years during the golden age of radio and television. It began in 1939, as a writer-producer at KYA and KSFO, both CBS radio affiliates in San Francisco. His own Freddie the Fox show on KSFO became a #1 hit, but was cancelled when too many mothers complained their children were imitating his stutter.

At the onset of WWII Fox worked for the Office of War Information as a writer/producer for a year and a half, then moved to Hollywood in 1943 on the rumor that comedians were looking for fresh, new writers. He began working immediately for Burns and Allen, Rosemary Clooney, Jack Carson, Bill Goodwin, Spike Jones, Doris Day and Bing Crosby. He joined Bob Hope's staff in 1944, writing the Bob Hope Pepsident Show for NBC radio. He worked on the "Road" movies with Hope and Crosby, and toured with Hope for the WWII War Bond effort. Thus began a relationship with Hope that spanned 40 years.

Apologizing for making Fox work throughout his honeymoon after marrying Mercedes Bigue in 1946, Bob and Dolores graciously offered their Palm Springs home to the newlyweds. When Fox later announced that he and Mercedes were going to have twins, Hope immediately quipped "Fred not only stutters when he talks". He later co-wrote many of the Bob Hope Specials featuring celebrity guest stars Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jack Benny, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Phyllis Diller, Perry Como, Sammy Davis Jr. and many more. He also wrote many of Hope's Christmas Show's Specials which where performed for the U.S. troops around the world.

Fox's early writing television credits include "The Real McCoy's", "Jeannie Carson Show", "Tugboat Annie", "The Thin Man", "So This is Hollywood" and "Spectaculars" for Phil Harris and Betty Hutton. He moved to New York in 1952 to write for "The Garry Moore Show" and write for Jackie Gleason. He was a staff writer for "The Red Skelton Hour", "The Andy Griffith Show", "Here's Lucy" and "The Lucy Show", "The Jackie Gleason Show", "The Jerry Lewis Specials", "The George Burns Specials", "Love Boat", "The Danny Thomas Show", and wrote episodes for "The Many Loves of Dobbie Gillis", "F-Troop", "The Jefferson's", "Maude", "Diff'rent Strokes", "Alice", "The Dick Van Dyke Show", and "All in the Family". He received a Writer's Guild Award for the "George Burn's Comedy Hour", and co-wrote "Oh God, Book II"; and was recognized by TV Guide for having three prime-time television shows on air back to back on the same evening: "Bob Hope Special", "George Burns Special" and "Love Boat".

Fox ended his career writing for the two comedians who gave him his start, Bob Hope and George Burns, and they were the closest to his heart, "Those two were the greatest" Fox would always say, "They didn't need writers, they were brilliant on their own". When his son Fred Jr. followed in his father's footsteps, he was touched by how well liked and respected his father was in the industry.

Fox is survived by his brother, Henry Fox, his twins, Jan Fox, a marketing specialist with Fox&Ward in Encino, CA, and Fred Jr., a recognized television writer/producer in Hollywood, CA, his beloved granddaughter, Francesca Fox, and his writing partner of many years, Seaman Jacobs.

A memorial celebrating his life will be held Sunday, November 6, at 11:00 a.m. at the Writer's Guild Theater, 135 So. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the charity of your choice.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/LAM148
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Buena Vista Pictures Marketing

CONTACT: Fred Fox, Jr., +1-323-462-7431, or mobile, +1-310-592-7247, or
Jan Fox, +1-818-788-3089, or mobile +1-310-345-9656

-------
Profile: intent