Chris Thompson (TV producer)

Chris Thompson (1952 – June 26, 2015) was an American television writer, producer and director. Since 1977, he wrote and produced for the television series Laverne & Shirley and The Larry Sanders Show. He had also created, written and produced Bosom Buddies, The Naked Truth, Action, Ladies Man and the Disney Channel original series, Shake It Up!, as well co-written the feature films Jumpin' Jack Flash and Back to the Beach.

Chris Thompson
Born1952
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died (aged 63)
Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, California, United States
OccupationTelevision writer, producer, director, screenwriter
Years active1977–2015
Spouse(s)Lyndall Hobbs (divorced)
Tracy Bjork (m. 1990-2003; divorced)
Curran Sympson Thompson (m. 2008 - his death)
Children3

Career

Born Christopher Thompson, he began his career at the age of 23, when he was approached by a producer who was impressed by his improv performance at the Off The Wall theater in Los Angeles.[1] Thompson thought this was his big acting break, but it was really the start of his prolific writing and producing career (the producer offered him an apprentice writing position on the series Sirota's Court).[1][2] Soon after, he was introduced to producer Garry Marshall and worked as a writer on Blansky's Beauties starring Nancy Walker and Scott Baio, followed by Laverne & Shirley, where he worked as a writer, and later as an executive producer, for seven years.[1][2] Thompson went on to create the buddy comedy Bosom Buddies for Paramount Studios.[1][2] His other writing and producing credits include The Naked Truth, Action, Ladies Man, The Larry Sanders Show, House Rules, Hard Knocks and over 30 pilots for various networks and studios.[1][2] His feature film writing credits include Jumpin' Jack Flash, and Back to the Beach.[1][2] In 2010, Thompson created and executive produced the Disney Channel dance-driven sitcom Shake It Up![1][2][3] He left the series after the first season leaving Rob Lotterstein as showrunner.

Personal life

Thompson was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Los Angeles.[1] During the early 1980s, Thompson was married to director Lyndall Hobbs; they had one daughter, Lola Rose Thompson.[4]

Thompson married Tracy Bjork in 1990, and they have two children, Taylor and Richard. They were married for thirteen years. [1]

Thompson died in actor Tim Curry's home on June 26, 2015 in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles after a long illness.[5][6] His death provoked a slew of messages from stars he had worked with, among them Bella Thorne who said Thompson had been "like a father to her at an early age." He is survived by his wife of seven years, Curran Sympson Thompson, their dog Roscoe and cat Ichi.[5][6]

Filmography

References
  1. "Shake It Up!: Chris Thompson, Creator & Executive Producer". Disney Channel Medianet. Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  2. "IMDb: Chris Thompson". IMDb. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  3. "Dance-Driven Sitcom 'Shake It Up' Premieres Sunday November 7 on Disney Channel". TV By the Numbers. October 7, 2010.
  4. In Her Father's Eyes, ABC.net
  5. Littleton, Cynthia (June 27, 2015). "Veteran Comedy Writer Chris Thompson Dies On Eve Of Comeback Bid". Variety. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  6. "Chris Thompson Dies: Writer-Producer Created 'Shake It Up!', Worked On 'Laverne & Shirley'". Deadline.com. June 27, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
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