Sam Bobrick death: Tributes paid to Saved By the Bell creator

Bobrick also wrote the 1960s US comedy series the Andy Griffith Show and the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
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Isobel Frodsham16 October 2019
The Weekender

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Tributes have been paid to the “hilarious and kind” Saved By the Bell creator Sam Bobrick.

Bobrick died at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke, his daughter confirmed on Tuesday.

His successful career saw him write more than 40 plays but he was best known for creating the popular US high school sitcom, which ran between 1989 to 1993.

According to his daughter Stefanie, Bobrick was hospitalised last week after suffering a “massive stroke” which he would “not recover from” and died hours later.

Tributes: Sam Bobrick has died aged 87
SamBobrick

She wrote on Facebook: “Our dearly beloved Sam Bobrick, extraordinary playwright, husband, father, grandfather, pug father, brother, uncle, friend, mentor, and all around outstanding person passed away peacefully [on] October 11, 2019, surrounded by family and friends.

“He was as hilarious as he was kind and will be missed by all who knew him.”

TV producer George Shapiro described Bobrick as “treasured and talented” in an emotional post.

Writing on Twitter he said: “My treasured, talented, hilarious friend, SAM BOBRICK, just left us, leaving a void in my heart that can never be replaced.

"Sam won WGA awards for 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Get Smart', plus Edgar Allan Poe Award for 'The Psychic', wrote Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', & more."

Shapiro added: “Sam Bobrick won WGA Award for The Alan King Special, wrote The Flintstones, created series, Saved by the Bell, wrote the hilarious Broadway play, ‘Norman is that You?’ with Ron Clark. Sam’s wife Julie is also a beautiful, creative force. She will always have my love & support.”

The Writers Guild Foundation also paid tribute to him and urged its Twitter followers to watch a video of Bobrick dissecting his writing process.

It said: “RIP to TV writer and #SavedByTheBell creator Sam Bobrick (THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR).

"Watch his oral history in partnership with [the Emmys], which was filmed in the WGF Library.”

Aside from his television career, Bobrick also co wrote songs, including The Girl of My Best Friend with Beverly Ross which was recorded by Elvis Presley.

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