Bernie Orenstein, Co-Writer of ‘That Girl’ and ‘The New Dick Van Dyke Show,’ Dies at 95
Bernie Orenstein, the television comedy writer and producer whose credits included “That Girl” and “The New Dick Van Dyke Show”, has died aged 95. His work helped shape several American sitcoms across four decades, often in partnership with Saul Turteltaub.
Orenstein died on 14 September, his family confirmed. He and Turteltaub also worked on “Sanford and Son”, “What’s Happening!!”, “Kate & Allie” and “Cosby”; Orenstein later mentored emerging writers and producers at Long Island University Brooklyn. Born in Toronto in 1931, he began writing for “Candid Camera” after moving to New York, and is survived by his wife, four children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
- Bernie Orenstein has died aged 95.
- He co-wrote and produced several well-known US television comedies.
- He also mentored aspiring writers and producers.
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American sitcoms became a major part of US television from the 1960s onwards, following the everyday lives of families and friends through recurring characters and comic situations. “That Girl” centred on a young woman pursuing a career in New York, while later shows such as “Sanford and Son” and “Kate & Allie” focused on different family and household arrangements.
Bernie Orenstein was a Canadian-born writer and producer who built his career in American television after moving to New York. He frequently worked with fellow writer and producer Saul Turteltaub, and their credits spanned several decades and sitcoms with varied casts and settings.
Television writers help develop characters, stories and dialogue, while producers oversee parts of a programme’s creation. Orenstein’s career also included mentoring people entering the industry, linking his work on established shows with the next generation of television makers.