Leslie Eberhard

TV, theatrical writer/producer

By VARIETY STAFF

Eberhard

Leslie Eberhard, longtime TV and theatrical writer and producer, died Saturday Jan. 12 from complications of cancer. He was 50 but would have preferred his age be quoted as 35.

Born in St. Louis and a graduate of Webster U., he gained attention in the early 1970s as a writer of specialty comedy material for Betty Walker's "Hello, Ciel…?" routines.

With collaborator David Levy, he wrote many original theatrical musicals, such as "Jolson", which premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse, "All Dressed Up" starring Dolores Gray and "Hey, Ma" starring Kaye Ballard.

Eberhard and Levy also wrote a non-Broadway version of "Jeckel and Hyde," which is currently on tour.

Eberhard wrote and produced several popular Saturday morning TV series with Peter Engel Prods., including "Saved by the Bell," "USA High" and "Malibu, CA."

He also contributed scripts to "Frasier"(for which he won a Humanitas Award), "The John Larroquette Show" and "9 to 5," starring Sally Struthers.

He is survived by his longtime partner, actor Loren Freeman, his mother and his sister.

A service will be held this week in his hometown of St. Louis. Another memorial will be held in Los Angeles in the next couple of weeks.