Earl Barret, TV Writer and Co-Creator of ‘Too Close for Comfort,’ Dies at 94

Comedy writer Earl Barret died in his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on Oct. 22. He was 94.

Barret began his career in TV writing in 1961 after taking Robert C. Dennis’s weekly free TV writing class. The two would go on to write episodes for several shows together.

Over the next 30 years, Barret wrote on over 30 shows, including “My Favorite Martian,” “Batman,” “Bewitched,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “I Spy,” “The Partners,” “Sanford and Son” and “Welcome Back, Kotter.” His biggest hit was “Too Close for Comfort,” the show he created, wrote and executive produced with longtime writing partner Arne Sultan. He also served as the director of 13 episodes of the series.

“Too Close for Comfort” ran on ABC from 1980 to 1983 before being broadcast across several stations from 1984 to 1987. Starring Ted Knight, Nancy Dussault and Jim J. Bullock, the log-line for the series reads: “In liberal San Francisco, a conservative cartoonist tries to keep his two daughters, who rent an apartment below him, safe.”

In addition to TV writing, Barret, with Sultan, wrote plays and the feature film “See No Evil, Hear No Evil.”

Before becoming a writer, Barret pursued a career in acting and had a SAG card. He graduated from Hollywood High and Los Angeles City College. His daughter, J.K. Barret, describes him as a “lifelong learner with a keen, curious mind and a gift for impeccable comic timing. He spent nine decades cultivating his passion for the performing arts, music and entertainment that began with the tap dancing and violin lessons he took in childhood in Guangzhou, Ohio.”

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Barnett Barret; daughter, J.K. Barret; son, John Nelson; and five grandsons. He was preceded in death by daughter, Lisa Nelson.