TV writing legend Jenna McMahon dead at 89

Emmy Award-winning TV writer Jenna Mcmahon has died, aged 89. The co-creator of hit comedies The Facts of Life and Mama’s Family passed away at a hospital in Monterey, California on 2 March (15).
Born Mary Virginia Skinner, she partnered with the late Dick Clair to form one of the top comedy writing teams of the 1970s and 1980s. She linked up with Clair while she was teaching acting and the two hit the variety club circuit as a comedy double act, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show and The Merv Griffin Show.
The pair also wrote episodes of The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, creating the character of Eunice for the programme’s recurring comedy sketch The Family.
They then took over writing for the spin-off, Mama’s Family, which aired in America from 1983 to 1990.
McMahon and Clair also wrote for Diff’rent Strokes, Maude and Soap.
In addition, McMahon enjoyed acting success with credits on The Twilight Zone, The Bob Newhart Show and Welcome Back, Kotter.
Dick Clair died in 1988, aged 57, of AIDS-related illnesses.