Earl Barret, TV Writer and Co-Creator of ‘Too Close for Comfort,’ Dies at 94

Comedy writer Earl Barret died in his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on Oct. 22. He was 94. Barret began his career in TV writing in 1961 after taking Robert C. Dennis’s weekly free TV writing class. The two would go on to write episodes for several shows together. Over the next 30 years, Barret […] Comedy writer Earl Barret died in his home in Sherman Oaks, California on Oct. 22. He was 94. Comedy writer Earl Barret died in his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on Oct. 22. He was 94. Barret began his career in TV writing in 1961 after taking Robert C. Dennis’s weekly free TV writing class.

The two would go on to write episodes for several shows together. Over the next 30 years, Barret wrote on over 30 shows, including “My Favorite Martian,” “Batman,” “Bewitched,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “I Spy,” “The Partners,” “Sanford and Son” and “Welcome Back, Kotter.” His biggest hit was “Too Close for Comfort,” the show he created, wrote and executive produced with longtime writing partner Arne Sultan. He also served as the director of 13 episodes of the series. “Too Close for Comfort” ran on ABC from 1980 to 1983 before being broadcast across several stations from 1984