Tim O’Donnell, who came out of news radio to write, direct and/or produce sitcoms including Growing Pains, Clueless and Dave’s World, has died. He was 77.
O’Donnell died July 27 at his home in Glendale after a battle with bladder cancer, his wife of nearly 39 years, Cara O’Donnell, told The Hollywood Reporter.
O’Donnell also developed the 1990-91 CBS comedy Uncle Buck, based on the John Hughes movie, and co-created the ABC sitcom Home Free, which starred Matthew Perry just before he landed on Friends.
O’Donnell served as a writer and producer for four seasons (1986-90) on ABC’s Growing Pains, starring Alan Thicke, and as a writer, producer and director for two seasons (1995-97) on CBS’ Dave’s World, starring Harry Anderson.
He then wrote, directed and produced two seasons (1997-99) of ABC/UPN’s Clueless, the sequel to the 1995 film that starred Rachel Blanchard as Cher Horowitz on the small screen.
O’Donnell attended Dominguez Seminary, Carson High School and Loyola University in the Los Angeles area, then began his career in radio and TV news at WBBM in Chicago. There, he served as editorial director, writing editorials and winning two local Emmys for his commentary.
He then segued to KNX/KCBS radio in Los Angeles and wrote and produced news segments for such anchors as Jess Marlow and Bill Stout.
O’Donnell saw a story in everything and humor in most of it, and in 1982-83, he received writing credit on five episodes of the lone season of Gloria, the All in the Family spinoff that starred Sally Struthers.
He ultimately left news for sitcoms and his gig on Growing Pains in 1986.
O’Donnell also wrote, directed and produced on the Disney Channel comedy Phil of the Future from 2004-05; was an executive produce on the 1997 sitcom Arsenio; wrote episodes of The Mommies and Whoopi; and directed installments of The Amanda Show, Shasta McNasty, Lizzie McGuire, Flight 29 Down and Melissa & Joey.
Well known for his wicked sense of humor, O’Donnell traveled to Russia, China and elsewhere to train local writers and directors in the art of the American sitcom.
“Tim was one of those guys who knew everyone and was always twice as funny offscreen as he was on it,” longtime TV columnist Brian Lowry said in a statement.
In addition to his wife, survivors include his children, Shannon, Carrie, Violet and Kit, and his granddaughters, Daphne, Vivienne, Leia and Bridget.
O’Donnell served on two WGA negotiating committees, and the guild is hosting a memorial for him starting at 2 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills (it also will be live-streamed with a link TBA). To RSVP, please contact jmtsutsui@gmail.com.