Kanter passed away at California’s Encino Hospital on Sunday (06Nov11) after suffering complications from pneumonia, his daughter Donna tells the Los Angeles Times.
Kanter shared an Emmy in 1955 for Best Written Comedy Material for his work on The George Gobel Show, but he is perhaps best known for creating the 1960s series Julia.
The show made history for featuring an African-American actress, Diahann Carroll, playing a professional employee rather than a domestic worker, and ran for three seasons.
Kanter also worked on Academy Awards broadcasts for more than 30 years, and his screenwriting credits include Bob Hope & Bing Crosby’s Road to Bali, and Pocketful of Miracles, which starred Glenn Ford and Bette Davis. He also wrote and directed Loving You, starring Elvis Presley.
Actor Carl Reiner has paid tribute to his pal, saying, “What a dear man. He was considered one of the wits of the industry; there’s no question about it. Any time he was called upon, he always could make the audience laugh. He was a funny elder statesman, and there’s nothing better than having a witty elder statesman.”
