Emmy-nominated writer and producer Charlie Hauck has died at the age of 79.
Charlie was responsible for the comedy behind a series of much-loved shows such as Frasier and Home Improvement.
He is also renowned for giving Micheal Keaton an early break in the acting industry.
The star’s daughter told the Metro that her father passed away on Monday of complications from pancreatic cancer.
Following the sad news of his death, Maude creator Normal Lear told Deadline : “Nobody made me laugh harder, or more often, than Charlie Hauck.
“He defined ‘funny’ and was a glorious man and friend.”
Emmy-nominated writer and producer Charlie Hauck has died at the age of 79
Deadline said that Hauck had a ‘knack for recognising young comic talent’ and helped break Michael Keaton into the industry.
“Charlie was one of the first people who opened the door for me,” said the Batman actor as he paid a heartfelt tribute.
“If it wasn’t for Charlie, I am not sure I would have had the opportunities or career that I have had,” he added.
“People inside and outside the comedy world are really going to miss Charlie.
Charlie was responsible for the comedy behind a series of much-loved shows such as Fraiser and Home Improvement (Image: WireImage for The Lippin Group)
“He was gracious, obviously generous, charming, and funny as hell.”
He described him as ‘legitimate, honest-to-goodness wit, and really well-liked and admired in the comedy world.’
Before his illness, Charlie worked on sitcoms including Maude, M*A*S*H and One Day At A Time during his decade spanning career.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he moved to Pittsburgh after finishing college in 1963.
Hauck worked as a reporter and bureau chief for BusinessWeek magazine.
The Washington Post recognised him as “one of the funnier people covering the coal, steel and aluminium industries”.
It was during his stint in Pittsburgh that he pitched some jokes to Phyllis Diller when the comedian’s stand-up tour came to town, explains Deadline.
She encouraged Hauck’s to hone in more on his comedic gift – prompting him to move to Los Angeles, where his showbiz career took off.
Years later, then President Bill Clinton dubbed Hauck “the funniest writer to dine in the White House since Will Rogers”.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
