Television writer Earl Barret dies at 94

Veteran television comedy writer and producer Earl Barret has died of natural causes at his home in Sherman Oaks, California. He was 94.

Barret was a prolific figure in American sitcoms, most notably co-creating the Ted Knight-starring series ‘Too Close for Comfort’ alongside Arne Sultan and Brian Cooke. His extensive career spanned over three decades, during which he contributed to numerous iconic programs including ‘Batman’, ‘Bewitched’, ‘The Andy Griffith Show’, ‘Get Smart’, ‘Sanford and Son’, and ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’.

An Ohio native, Barret transitioned from an initial interest in acting to writing after attending a television writing class in 1961. His credits also included work on ‘I Spy’, ‘The Bob Newhart Show’, and the feature film ‘See No Evil, Hear No Evil’. His daughter, J. K. Barret, announced his passing, describing him as a “lifelong learner with a keen, curious mind and a gift for impeccable comic timing.”