David W. Duclon, creator Punky Brewster Which also produced a handful of successful sitcoms, including Family affairs, Silver spoons, The Jeffersons and Laverne and ShirleyHe died. He was 74 years old.
His daughter, Danielle Duclon, said that Duclon died on Wednesday morning in Franklin, Tennessee, after a long illness Hollywood Reporter.
Born Warren David Duclun on April 27, 1950 in Rockford, Illinois, he first made his way to Hollywood in 1972 as a writer and associate producer on a television series. The odd coupleStarring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman.
While Duclon continued his career in television, it was clear that he had a talent for sitcoms. Join later Happy days1976 film starring Henry Winkler and Ron Howard as writer, as well Laverne and ShirleyStarring Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams in the same year. Duclon also served as producer on the latter.
It wasn’t until 1984 that Duclon released his own sitcom, Punky Brewster. The series ran for four seasons until 1988, and follows a young girl named Penelope “Punky” Brewster who is abandoned by her parents and ends up in the care of a widowed photographer.
Duclon received two Emmy Award nominations for the original film Punky BrewsterIncluding the best program for children in 1986 and 1986.
Peacock later released a reboot in 2021, which saw Punky Brewster growing up with her children. Duclon executive produced the series, which ran for only one season.
Duclon was also involved in the creation Silver spoons with Ron Levitt, which ran for five seasons from 1982 to 1987. The series follows Ricky Stratton, a spoiled rich kid who lives the life many kids dream of, but still struggles with the problems that many teenagers have.
Throughout his television career, Duclon wrote eight episodes of the television series The Jeffersons He also served as executive producer on Norman Lear’s hit series. He later wrote and executive produced Family affairs. His other credits included Boys will be boys, On our own, Built to last, Men like us, Malcolm and Eddie, –, Work hardening and Make it.
In 2017, Duclon also wrote the book, Once Upon a Christmas: Part One of the Improbable Life of David Duncan.
