TV writer and producer Bernie Orenstein dies at 95

Bernie Orenstein, a prolific television writer and producer known for shaping classic American sitcoms, has died at the age of 95. His death occurred on September 14, 2026, according to family confirmation.

Born in Toronto in 1931, Orenstein moved to the United States and established a highly successful writing partnership with Saul Turteltaub. Together, they contributed to a wide array of influential programs, including ‘That Girl’, ‘The Monkees’, ‘Sanford and Son’, and ‘The New Dick Van Dyke Show’. Their collaborative work also extended to series such as ‘What’s Happening!!’, ‘Grady’, ‘Sanford Arms’, ‘Kate & Allie’, and ‘Cosby’.

Beyond his writing and producing credits, Orenstein appeared as an actor on several programs and served as an educator at Long Island University Brooklyn’s TV Writers Studio MFA program. He was married to actress Barbara Rhoades for over four decades.