Dale McRaven Useless: ‘Mork & Mindy,’ ‘Excellent Strangers’ Creator Was 83

Dale McRaven, an Emmy-nominated tv author and a creator behind exhibits like “Excellent Strangers” and “Mork & Mindy,” died Sept. 5 at his dwelling in Porter Ranch, Calif. as a result of lung most cancers issues. He was 83.

McRaven’s loss of life was confirmed to Selection by his son, David McRaven.

McRaven obtained nominations from each the Writers Guild of America Awards and the Primetime Emmys for his work writing on ABC’s “Mork & Mindy,” which he served as a co-creator of alongside Joe Glauberg and the late movie director Garry Marshall, who he labored carefully with all through his profession.

McRaven later created the favored ABC sitcom “Excellent Strangers,” which ran for eight seasons. After discussing inventive variations with different forces across the present, McRaven retired fully from movie and tv a number of years after the sequence’ conclusion in 1993, as a substitute pouring his focus into wildlife and climate images.

McRaven’s first job in leisure got here with NBC’s ’60s sitcom “The Joey Bishop Present.” He and fellow author Carl Kleinschmidt have been employed by Marshall in 1964, launching each males into affluent tv careers. Understanding of an workplace on Sundown Boulevard, McRaven and Kleinschmidt collaborated on “The Dick Van Dyke Present,” incomes a shared win for greatest episodic comedy on the 1966 WGA Awards.

The pair additionally labored collectively on “The Odd Couple,” “Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C.,” “Good Morning World,” “That Woman” and “Hey, Landlord.”

In 1974, McRaven started to write down and produce with out Kleinschmidt’s collaboration. He served as a producer on the profitable ABC sitcom “The Partridge Household.” He additionally wrote for “Angie” and “The Betty White Present” throughout this era.

Presently, McRaven additionally created and offered his first authentic present, “The Texas Wheelers” — a comedy a couple of deadbeat dad who settles in Arizona to deal with his youngsters after their mom passes. Though the sequence didn’t run for greater than eight episodes, it remained McRaven’s most private and passionate mission, in response to his son.

Born March 5, 1939 close to the city of Pulaski, Sick., McRaven grew up in Arizona as one in all six kids. Following his retirement from movie and tv, McRaven devoted himself to the humanities, touring the world, photographing wildlife and landscapes and posting digital exhibitions of his paintings to his private web site. He received two awards of benefit on the Los Angeles Zoo’s Annual Images contest.

“It’s straightforward to be impressed and in awe of Dale and his accomplishments, from his writings, TV Producer profession, wonderful images, great Artwork, and to his triumphs over the hurdles of his well being,” his niece, Grissyg Lizarraga, wrote in a 2014 weblog submit. “These are a number of of the gold doubloons from Dale McRaven’s treasure chest of life.”

McRavene was buried at Turner & Stevens Reside Oak Mortuary & Memorial Park in Monrovia, Calif. He’s survived by his son, David; his daughter, Renee; his daughter-in-law, Ruth; his nieces and nephews; his grandchildren, Justin Davis, Matthew McRaven and Nefertina Lizárraga; in addition to his pet yorkie, The Mighty Kong.