Samuel Denoff (July 1, 1928 – July 8, 2011) was an American Emmy Award-winning screenwriter, television producer.Denoff was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Esther (Rothbard) and Harry Denoff, a salesman. With his long-time collaborator Bill Persky he wrote and created the television show That Girl starring Marlo Thomas. Their writing collaboration on episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show resulted in some of the show's most popular episodes. Denoff also wrote for the 1976 Danny Thomas situation comedy The Practice.
Carl Reiner described their working relationship together on the The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961): "Sam and I had a wonderful contrapuntal relationship: I would fight with him as if I were fighting with a wife. It makes for good jokes".
2
Had set out to be a songwriter and, eventually, co-wrote the theme for That Girl (1966), as well as a 1957 tune called "Let's Keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn".
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Life with Bonnie
2002
TV Series consulting writer
The 14th Annual American Comedy Awards
2000
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards
1996
TV Special
The Laverne & Shirley Reunion
1995
TV Special
The 20th Annual People's Choice Awards
1994
TV Special
The 19th Annual People's Choice Awards
1993
TV Special
More of 'The Best of the Hollywood Palace'
1993
TV Movie written by
The Best of 'The Hollywood Palace'
1992
TV Movie written by
Happy Days Reunion Special
1992
TV Special
Harry and the Hendersons
TV Series written by - 3 episodes, 1991 story - 1 episode, 1991
The Practice
1976
TV Series written by - 1 episode
Roll, Freddy, Roll!
1974
TV Movie
The Boys
1974
TV Movie
Lotsa Luck
TV Series created by - 22 episodes, 1973 - 1974 written by - 2 episodes, 1973
The Man Who Came to Dinner
1972
TV Movie adaptation
That Girl
TV Series created by - 137 episodes, 1965 - 1971 written by - 4 episodes, 1965 - 1969
The First Nine Months Are the Hardest
1971
TV Movie writer
Pure Goldie
1971
TV Movie
Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman
1969
TV Special
The Bill Cosby Special
1968
TV Special
Good Morning, World
TV Series created by - 26 episodes, 1967 - 1968 written by - 3 episodes, 1967 - 1968
The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special
1967
TV Special written by
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1963-1966
TV Series written by - 29 episodes
The Julie Andrews Show
1965
TV Special
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1964
TV Series story - 1 episode
The Bill Dana Show
1964
TV Series written by - 1 episode
The Joey Bishop Show
1963-1964
TV Series written by - 2 episodes
McHale's Navy
1963
TV Series written by - 1 episode
The Andy Williams Show
TV Series 1 episode, 1962 writer - 1 episode, 1962
The New Steve Allen Show
1961
TV Series 1 episode
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
50 Years of Funny Females
1995
TV Movie documentary producer
Dudley
1993
TV Series producer - 1 episode
Harry and the Hendersons
1991
TV Series consulting producer - 1 episode
It's Garry Shandling's Show.
1987-1988
TV Series supervising producer - 9 episodes
American Film Institute Comedy Special
1987
TV Special producer
Turnabout
1979
TV Series executive producer - 6 episodes
On Our Own
1977-1978
TV Series producer - 22 episodes
The Sunshine Boys
1977
TV Movie producer
The Montefuscos
1975
TV Series producer
Big Eddie
1975
TV Series executive producer
Roll, Freddy, Roll!
1974
TV Movie producer
The Boys
1974
TV Movie producer
Lotsa Luck
1973
TV Series executive producer - 2 episodes
The Man Who Came to Dinner
1972
TV Movie producer
The Don Rickles Show
1972
TV Series producer - 2 episodes
The Funny Side
1971
TV Series producer
That Girl
1966-1971
TV Series executive producer - 136 episodes
The First Nine Months Are the Hardest
1971
TV Movie producer
Pure Goldie
1971
TV Movie producer
Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman
1969
TV Special producer
The Bill Cosby Special
1968
TV Special producer
Good Morning, World
1967-1968
TV Series producer - 26 episodes
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1965-1966
TV Series producer - 11 episodes
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Life with Bonnie
2002-2004
TV Series consultant - 41 episodes
The Practice
1976
TV Series executive consultant - 1 episode
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1964-1966
TV Series story consultant - 62 episodes
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mystery Science Theater 3000
1997
TV Series writer - 1 episode
That Girl
1965-1971
TV Series lyrics - 81 episodes
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1963
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Lotsa Luck
1973
TV Series composer - 2 episodes
That Girl
1970-1971
TV Series lyricist - 24 episodes
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1963
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
2004
Lord Jerome
Life with Bonnie
2003
TV Series
Father Farrell
The Princess Diaries
2001
Lord Jerome
Lasting Silents
1997
Abe Levenson
Exit to Eden
1994
The Confused Golfer
Return to Green Acres
1990
TV Movie
Art Dealer
A Family for Joe
1990
TV Movie
Slamburger Manager
Nothing in Common
1986
Sal Mancuso
Wait Till Your Mother Gets Home!
1983
TV Movie
Serial
1980
Painter
Roll, Freddy, Roll!
1974
TV Movie
Gas Station Attendant
Here We Go Again
1973
TV Series
Mailman
That Girl
1969-1971
TV Series
Big Better / Man in Booth / Hat Check Man #1 / ...
My World and Welcome to It
1969-1970
TV Series
Doctor / Another Shopper / Writer
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1966
TV Series
Cowboy
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Inside TV Land: The Dick Van Dyke Show
2000
TV Special documentary
Himself
How to Survive the 70s and Maybe Even Bump Into Happiness
1978
TV Special
Fred
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1969
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Variety or Musical Program
The Bill Cosby Special (1968)
1967
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety
The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special (1967)
1966
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
1964
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy or Variety