Comedy writer Larry Gelbart has died at age 81

Sept. 11, 2009 | Patt Morrison | KPCC

The bearer of a distinctive comic voice has died. Larry Gelbart, who guided the transition of the hit movie M*A*S*H from the big screen to its long run on TV, was 81 years old.

Three years ago Gelbart shared his perspective on the state of television with KPCC’s Patt Morrison.

U.S. News

Larry Gelbart: "Television has certainly gotten worse, in terms of the shrinkage of actual content time. Cable has gotten more expensive. I think that the, the saturation of every media with money has been so deep that I, I’d like to write a happy ending, but I know someone will change it."

Gelbart was a veteran of the legendary Sid Caesar writers’ stable that also included comics Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and Woody Allen. He died Friday morning at his home in Beverly Hills.

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