The Joy of Laughter

In this memoir rich with humor a comedy writer guides us on his personal journey from the impoverished depths of the Great Depression to the top of his profession. Despite the ups and downs the joys and sorrows he helped produce laugh lines for performers from the gagster Henny Youngman to sketch writing for the brilliant comedienne Carol Burnett. He also wrote for the Benson and Rhoda television series as well as numerous weekly variety shows and sitcoms featuring such stars as Danny Kaye Dom DeLuise Fred Allen Herb Shriner Alan King Nathan Lane and countless others.<p> As a Playwright he wrote Broadway-produced plays in collaboration with his long-time partner the late Carroll B. Moore Jr. One such play Send Me No Flowers became a hit movie starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day. He later wrote the bittersweet off-Broadway comedy Standing By as a tribute to the courage of his daughter Emily in her battle against a serious disease. The Joy of Laughter also provides an intimate peek into some of the more hilarious behind-the-scenes professional and personal shenanigans of the Broadway/Hollywood/Beverly Hills show business community.