‘Two and a Half Men,’ Simpsons’ Writer and producer was 65 – Deadline

Veteran comedy showrunner David Richardson passed away today, January 18, from heart failure. He celebrated his 65th birthday on Christmas Eve.

Richardson had recently ended the next fifth and final season of Netflix’s adult animation series F is for family, where he served as executive producer.

Almost 30-year-old cancer survivor, Richardson began his career as a TV comedy writer in 1985 on the Michael Leeson / Carsey-Werner NBC series Big, starring Pamela Red and Bonnie Hunt. He spent two seasons on the sitcom Empty nest before proceeding to the animation with a constraint The Simpsons.

Richardson continued to work in several live TV comedies. While on the Witt-Thomas team The John Larroquette Show, he won a Humanitas Award for his episode “Faith”. Richardson spent three seasons in Two and a half Men and also wrote and produced for Malcolm in the Middle, 8 Simple Rules, Phenom, Ed and What about Joan, starring Joan Cusack and Kyle Chandler, in which he acted as a showrunner.

During his career, Richardson developed and produced several pilot executives and created and produced executives Manhattan, AZ, that worked in the USA for two seasons.

Richardson returned to animation with the film created by Bill Burr and Michael Price F is for family, which he joined at the beginning as an executive co-producer and was promoted to executive producer in the third season.

“I met David in 2000, when he was my boss in And as for Joan, and I never forgot how great he was as a writer, host and friend, ”said Price, co-creator, executive producer and showrunner of F is for the family. “When I had the chance to become a showrunner in F is for family, he was the first person I called to add to the staff. From the first day of the show he was my right hand – always making great jokes, masterful with the story, and just a great, great guy. His fingerprints are on every frame of our show, and his loss is immeasurable to me. “

Richardson leaves his wife, Charleen Easton Richardson; his 12-year-old twin boys, Arlo and Atticus; son Wayne, from a previous marriage; nora Kelsey; grandson Banks and granddaughter Harper; brother Jeff Richardson and sister Susan Benson; and several nieces and nephews, not to mention the many people whose lives he has touched throughout his long entertainment career.

The family is planning a private ceremony. A public celebration of Richardson’s life will take place later. Instead of flowers, donations can be made on behalf of David to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.