AceShowbiz - Gary Dontzig, the celebrated Emmy-winning writer and producer known for his pivotal role on the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown, has passed away at the age of 79.

Dontzig died on February 23 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to a rare and aggressive auto-immune syndrome, as announced by his longtime writing partner, Steven Peterman, with whom he collaborated for over 35 years.

During the first six seasons of the critically acclaimed Murphy Brown, starring Candice Bergen, Gary Dontzig and Peterman co-wrote 25 episodes and helped produce 150 installments. Their work earned them promotion to executive producers by series creator Diane English.

Among their notable contributions was the landmark two-part episode “You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato,” co-written with Korby Siamis, which opened the show’s fifth season in 1992. This episode was a direct response to Vice President Dan Quayle’s public criticism of the character Murphy Brown for having a child as a single mother. The controversy propelled the show onto the front page of The New York Times and drew a record audience of 70 million viewers.

Gary Dontzig and his team received multiple Emmy nominations throughout the early 1990s for outstanding comedy series and writing, securing wins in 1990, 1991, and 1992 for their exemplary work on the show.

Born in New York City on March 18, 1946, Dontzig began his career as an actor, appearing in television shows such as The Waltons, Chico and the Man, One Day at a Time, Too Close for Comfort, and Laverne & Shirley. He also performed as Patrick in a national tour of Mame alongside Angela Lansbury, who remained a lifelong friend.

His partnership with Peterman began after they met during a production at the Old Globe theater in San Diego. They later joined the original writing staff of Murphy Brown and reunited for the show's reboot in 2018.

Following their departure from Murphy Brown, the duo developed and executive produced all three seasons of the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan (1996-99), which starred Brooke Shields. They also worked on the Fox Family series State of Grace (2001-02), which introduced young talents Alia Shawkat and Mae Whitman. Their writing on that series earned them a Humanitas nomination in 2002.

Dontzig and Peterman contributed to the final season of CBS’s Becker (2003-04), starring Ted Danson, and notably rewrote the original script that became the Disney sensation Hannah Montana, starring Miley Cyrus. They co-executive produced the pilot episode alongside series creator Michael Poryes.

Outside of his television career, Gary Dontzig and his life partner, artist Gary Campbell, whom he was with for over 30 years, were active advocates for AIDS victims during the 1980s and beyond. The couple supported numerous charities and political causes throughout their lives.

They lived in West Hollywood and later acquired a home near the Georgia O’Keeffe Center in Abiquiu, New Mexico. After Campbell’s sudden death in 2002, Dontzig divided his time between both residences until he moved permanently to New Mexico following his work on the Hannah Montana pilot, focusing on playwriting. He also taught drama classes at American University in Washington, D.C.

Steven Peterman reflected on Dontzig’s legacy, emphasizing that it was his humanity, intellect, wit, and generosity that endeared him to colleagues and friends alike, beyond his impressive creative accomplishments.

Surviving Gary Dontzig are his sister, Lois, and niece, Claudine. Plans for a celebration of life are underway, and donations in his memory can be made to the New Mexico Wildlife Center, the Santa Fe Animal Shelter, or PETA.