Frederick S. Fox (1915 - 2005)

Born 26 Jul 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri

Ancestors

Died 23 Oct 2005 at age 90 in Encino, Los Angeles, California

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Biography

Born 26 JUL 1915. St. Louis, Missouri. Source: Details: 1920 Census, St. Louis, Missouri, and Social Security Death Index.

Died 23 OCT 2005. Encino, Los Angeles, California. Source: Details: Social Security Death Index.

Note: #N3220.

Notes

Note N3220The New York Times, November 4, 2005 [sent by Hector Irizarry] -- Fred.

S. Fox, a comedy writer whose career started in radio and who wrote for.

stars like Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball and George Burns, died.

here on Oct. 23. He was 90. The cause was pneumonia, his son, Fred Fox.

Jr. , said. 1

A native of St. Louis, Mr. Fox began his career as a writer and producer.

at KYA and KSFO in San Francisco. He had a children's show, "Freddie the.

Fox," on KSFO. 1

He moved to Los Angeles in 1943 and began writing for Hope, Burns and.

Allen, Doris Day and Bing Crosby. He joined Hope's staff in 1944, writi.

for "The Pepsodent Show Starring Bob Hope." He was also co-writer of ma.

of the later Bob Hope television specials and wrote many of Hope's.

Christmas specials as well. 1

Mr. Fox wrote for many early television shows, including "The Garry Moo.

Show" and "The Andy Griffith Show," and later wrote for "Here's Lucy,".

"The Lucy Show" and "Diff'rent Strokes." He was also a writer of the 19.

film "Oh God! Book II," starring George Burns. 1

Mr. Fox is survived by his brother, Henry, and his twin children, Jan a.

Fred Jr. 1

---------- 1

Newsday (Melville, NY), November 7, 2005 [sent by Hector Irizarry] -- L.

ANGELES -- Fred S. Fox Sr., a comedy writer who worked for some of.

Hollywood's legendary entertainers, including Bob Hope and George Burns,.

died Oct. 23 at 90. 1

Fox died of pneumonia, said his daughter, Jan Fox. 1

His work inspired younger generations of comedy writers, including.

director-producer Garry Marshall, creator of "Happy Days," and his own.

son, Fred Fox Jr., who wrote for that popular series, among others. 1

"He was my writing mentor on my first script and one of the strongest.

influences in my career," Marshall said. "But most of all, he was very.

funny." 1

Born in St. Louis, Fox graduated from the University of California at.

Berkeley, and began his career at two San Francisco radio stations. At.

KSFO, he had his own show, "Freddie the Fox," which, although popular,.

was canceled after mothers complained that their children were imitating.

Fox's stutter, his daughter said. 1

At the outset of World War II, Fox worked as a writer and producer for.

the Office of War Information. But he soon moved to Hollywood to write.

for comedians and in 1944 joined Hope's staff. 1

Initially, Fox wrote for "The Bob Hope Pepsodent Show," which had begun.

in 1938, and over their lengthy association co-wrote many of Hope's.

specials and Christmas shows performed for troops around the world. 1

Even on his 1946 honeymoon, Fox was asked by Hope to send 20 jokes a da.

The writer reluctantly did as he was told - and the honeymoon couple we.

rewarded with a week at the luxurious Hope compound in Palm Springs,.

Calif. 1

"He was not only good to work with," Fox told the Times when Hope di.

2003 at age 100, "but when you got to know him, he became a friend.". 1

Fox also maintained a long association with another centenarian comedia.

Burns, who also was 100 when he died in 1996. Fox began writing for Bur.

and his wife, Gracie Allen, when he first moved to Hollywood in 1943.

Years later, Fox won a Writers Guild Award for "The George Burns Comedy.

Hour." With his longtime writing partner, Seaman Jacobs, and others, Fox.

also scripted Burns' 1980 feature film "Oh, God! Book II" from the novel.

by Avery Corman. 1

Although he also wrote for Lucille Ball, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Red.

Skelton, Andy Griffith and others, Fox was fondest of Hope and Burns, h.

daughter said. "Those were the greatest. They didn't need writers; they.

were brilliant on their own," she said he often told his family and.

friends. 1

Among Fox's long list of credits were one of the earliest television.

variety shows, "The Red Skelton Hour," in 1951, as well as "The Andy.

Griffith Show," "Petticoat Junction," "F Troop," "Here's Lucy," "The.

Doris Day Show," "The Love Boat" and "Diff'rent Strokes.". 1

In addition to his twin sons and daughter, Fox is survived by a brother,.

Henry, and a granddaughter.

Sources