Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer Dan Wilcox has died at the age of 82.
Wilcox, best known as the writer of numerous M*A*S*H episodes, including co-writing the iconic series finale in 1982, died on February 14 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
His niece Julie Merson Rothenberg confirmed his death to the WGA, but did not provide any information about the cause of death.
In addition to Merson Rothenberg, he is survived by his wife Leslie Easterbrook, 74, actress, his sister Nina Wilcox Merson and his niece Wendy Merson Rich.
In 2017, Wilcox received the Morgan Cox Award recognizing his contributions to the Writers Guild. WGAW President Howard A. Rodman said at the time: “Dan Wilcox was a voice for the voiceless in a lasting and deeply moving way.”
Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer Dan Wilcox has died aged 82 (pictured 2017)
Wilcox, best known as the writer of numerous M*A*S*H episodes, including co-writing the iconic series finale in 1982, died on February 14 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles (pictured) . 2017)
“His work, both passionate and effective, serves those who might otherwise lack the power to make their voices heard.”
Wilcox – along with Alan Alda, Burt Metcalfe, John Rappaport, Thad Mumford, Elias Davis, David Pollock and Karen Hall – wrote the M*A*S*H series finale “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”, which was enjoyed by a general audience 121.6 million were seen by 50 viewers.
It is the most-watched finale and most-watched single episode of any television series in U.S. history.
Wilcox was born in New York City in 1941 and began his career as a writer for the CBS children's show Captain Kangaroo.
He revealed he “almost lost” his chance at a career in television with lackluster scripts, but his Uncle Jed saved him.
He said: “He read my scripts and told me I had done the comedy all wrong. “Never let the character realize there's a problem. He thinks everything is going perfectly and then it all falls apart!”
“Jed gave me a crash course in comedy writing that I have relied on throughout my career.”
In the 1970s he began working on shows including What's Happening!! and Sesame Street – won an Emmy in 1970 for his work on the children's show and met his writing partner Thad Mumford along the way.
Wilcox wrote – alongside Alan Alda, Burt Metcalfe, John Rappaport, Thad Mumford, Elias Davis, David Pollock and Karen Hall – the M*A*S*H series finale “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” (pictured). from a total audience of 121.6 million
Wilcox received an additional four Emmy nominations for the talk shows “America 2-Nite” and “M*A*S*H,” as well as five Writers Guild Award nominations, winning for the latter in 1980 (pictured in 2013).
Wilcox received an additional four Emmy nominations for the talk shows America 2-Nite and M*A*S*H, as well as five Writers Guild Awards nominations, winning for the latter in 1980.
Wilcox and Mumford joined M*A*S*H for the eighth season and stayed until the eleventh and final season – with Wilcox also serving as a producer.
His writing also includes Alice, Angie, Bay City Blues, Diagnosis Murder, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Cosby and Murder, She Wrote.