Jerry Doolittle, the celebrated comedy writer known for his witty jokes surrounding White House events and murder mysteries, passed away on October 9th at the age of 90.
The talented and funny screenwriter had a career that began in the 1960s, writing for the variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. With a string of hit comedy writing credits to his name, Doolittle then went on to write for other high profile shows such as the Dean Martin Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, the Emmy Award-winning Loving Friends & Perfect Couples, the Golden Globe-winning Wild Card, and others.
Doolittle’s career reached its peak in the 1980s when he wrote for the hit sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. He was well known for his zany and fast-paced writing style which often centered around White House comedic lampoons. His ability to cleverly intertwine political jokes and social satire earned him an Emmy Award in 1986.
Not only was Doolittle a comedic genius, he also had an eye for writing detective and mystery novels. He published his debut novel, The Riverside Killer: A Mystery Story in 1991. He went on to write five more novels and had a string of short stories published in various magazines.
Jerry Doolittle will be fondly remembered by comedy fans dealing in laughter while fellow mystery writers honor him with a unique and complex pen. His legacy will surely live on as his hilariously irreverent comedy skits, relatable mysteries, and classic jokes will likely be heard for years to come.
“Mystery and Maestro: Legendary Writer Jerry Doolittle Passes at 90
