‘Murphy Brown’ Writer, Producer Was 79

Gary Dontzig, the onetime actor who won three Emmy Awards for his work as a writer and producer on the admired CBS sitcom Murphy Brown, has died. He was 79.

Dontzig died Feb. 23 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of a rare and aggressive auto-immune syndrome, Steven Peterman, his writing partner of some 35 years, announced.

Dontzig and Peterman wrote 25 episodes and were involved in producing 150 installments during the first six seasons of the Candice Bergen-starring Murphy Brown.

After being elevated to executive producers by creator Diane English, they wrote (with Korby Siamis) the landmark two-part episode “You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato” that opened the series’ fifth season in 1992 and served as a response to Vice President Dan Quayle’s attack on Murphy’s decision to have a baby as a single woman.

The controversy put the show on the front page of The New York Times as a record 70 million viewers tuned in.

At the Emmys, Dontzig, Peterman and others were nominated for the coveted outstanding comedy series prize from 1990-93 (winning in ’90 and ’92) and for comedy writing trophies in 1991 and 1992 (winning in ’91).

Born in New York City on March 18, 1946, Dontzig appeared on episodes of such shows as The Waltons, Chico and the Man, One Day at a Time, Too Close for Comfort and Laverne & Shirley and played Patrick in a national tour of Mame alongside Angela Lansbury, who would become a lifelong friend.

He first met Peterman in a production at the Old Globe theater in San Diego, and they would become members of the original writing staff of Murphy Brown. (The pair would return for the series’ reboot in 2018.)

After leaving Murphy Brown, Dontzig and Peterman developed and then executive produced all three seasons (1996-99) of the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan, starring Brooke Shields. They followed with a 2001-02 stint on the Fox Family series State of Grace, which introduced Alia Shawkat and Mae Whitman (the writers received a Humanitas nomination in 2002).

After work on the sixth and final season (2003-04) of the CBS series Becker, starring Ted Danson, they rewrote the original script for what would become the Disney phenomenon Hannah Montana, starring Miley Cyrus, and they co-exec produced the pilot along with series creator Michael Poryes.

Dontzig and artist Gary Campbell, his life partner of more than 30 years, were fierce advocates for AIDS victims during the 1980s and beyond and tireless supporters of a long list of charities and political causes.

The two lived in West Hollywood and eventually added a home near the Georgia O’Keefe Center in Abiquiu, New Mexico. Dontzig split time between those homes until the sudden death of Campbell in 2002, and after the Hannah pilot, he moved permanently to New Mexico, where he wrote plays.

He also taught classes at American University’s drama school in Washington.

“It was Dontzig’s qualities as a human being, rather than his credits, that made the man so beloved by fellow actors, writers, crewmembers and his legion of friends,” Peterman said. “Along with his sharp intellect, wit and creative talent, he will be remembered for his great humanity and generosity.”

Survivors include his sister, Lois, and his niece, Claudine.

A celebration of life is being planned. Donations in his memory can be made to the New Mexico Wildlife Center, the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and/or PETA.