Stan Burns

Stan Burns, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer, died of heart failure Nov. 5 at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital. He was 79.

Born in 1923 in Brooklyn, N.Y., Burns was the original writer of "The Tonight Show" starring Steve Allen and later became the original writer for "The Steve Allen Show." He relocated to California in 1960 when the show moved West and remained Allen’s principal writer throughout his career.

Burns wrote for many popular variety shows in the 1950s and 1960s, including "The Smothers Brothers," "The Flip Wilson Show" (for which he received an Emmy nomination), "The Milton Berle Show," "Dean Martin’s Celebrity Roasts" and "The Carol Burnett Show," for which he earned an Emmy Award for the 1971-72 season.

Among his television writing credits, Burns co-authored "The World Book of Jewish Records," and co-created, with partner Mike Marmer, the show "Lancelot Link/Secret Chimp" and the film, "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen."

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughters, Laurie and Bonnie; son-in-law, Martin Green; and grandchildren, Adam, Josh and Megan.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation, 22212 Ventura Blvd., Suite 300, Woodland Hills, CA 91364. — Staff Report