Gary David Goldberg
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Gary David Goldberg was an award-winning television creator/writer/producer responsible for some of the most successful family-centered TV series of late 20th century, including the long-running "Family Ties" (NBC, 1982-89). Goldberg entered the industry as a writer on "The Bob Newhart Show" in 1976 and wrote and later became a producer of "The Tony Randall Show." He wrote and produced the CBS dramatic series "Lou Grant" before making his feature debut as producer/director/screenwriter of an adaptation of William Wharton's sentimental family drama "Dad" (1989). Goldberg later received critical acclaim, if not enduring ratings success, for his warm, offbeat portrait of a Jewish family in another situation comedy/drama, "Brooklyn Bridge" (CBS, 1991-93). Goldberg returned to features as co-screenwriter (with Brad Hall) and producer (with Hall and Sam Weisman) of "Bye Bye Love" (1995), a middling comic look at the effects of divorce on three men in their thirties. Returning to series TV, Goldberg served as co-creator and one of the executive producers of "Spin City" (ABC, 1996-2002) on which he reteamed with "Family Ties" star Michael J. Fox. Goldberg founded and served as chair of Ubu Productions, which has overseen shows including "Family Ties." Ubu Productions entered into a four-year, multi-million-dollar production deal with DreamWorks SKG to provide both feature films and TV shows. The first venture under this agreement was the short-lived ABC sitcom "Champs" (1996). Following the end of "Spin City" in 2002, Goldberg went on to write, produce and direct the easygoing romantic comedy "Must Love Dogs" (2005), starring John Cusack and Diane Lane. He died in 2013 at age 68 of brain cancer, remembered as a good-natured and much-loved figure in film and television.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Producer (Special)
Life Events
1976
First TV screenwriting credit, for the series "The Bob Newhart Show"
1976
Was story editor for "The Tony Randall Show"
1979
Created first TV series, "The Last Resort"
1982
Made directorial debut on TV series, "Making the Grade" (also executive producer)
1989
Directed, wrote and produced first feature film, "Dad"
1991
Served as executive producer, writer and creator of semi-autobiographical TV series, "Brooklyn Bridge"
1996
Returned to TV as co-creator and executive producer (with Michael J Fox) of the ABC sitcom "Spin City"; left show as producer after the 1997-1998 season
1999
Sold sitcom "Battery Park" to NBC as midseason replacement; aired in 2000, but was short-lived
2005
Helmed the comedy "Must Love Dogs" starring Diane Lane as a newly divorced woman whose family signs her up for on-line dating
Family
Companions
