Allan Pennington Burns (May 18, 1935January 30, 2021) was an American screenwriter and television producer. He was best known for co-creating and writing for the television sitcoms The Munsters and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Early life
Burns was born in Baltimore on May 18, 1935. His father died when he was nine years old. Three years later, he moved to Honolulu with his mother after his older brother was assigned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor. He studied architecture at the University of Oregon starting in 1953, After being impressed with the television pilot for Brooks's show Room 222, Burns began a partnership with Brooks and joined the Room 222 writing staff and later produced the series. Burns also worked as a writer and producer on the shows FM, Eisenhower and Lutz, and Cutters. He also wrote the screenplays Butch and Sundance: The Early Days, Just the Way You Are and wrote and directed Just Between Friends.
Personal life
Burns married Joan Bailey in 1964; the couple had two children: Eric and Matthew.
Burns died at his home in Los Angeles on January 30, 2021, aged 85, from Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.
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| 1971
| The Mary Tyler Moore Show, "Support Your Local Mother," (with James L. Brooks)
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| 1973
| The Mary Tyler Moore Show, "The Good Time News" (with James L. Brooks)
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| 1975
| Rhoda, "Rhoda's Wedding" (with Norman Barasch, James L. Brooks, David Davis, David Lloyd, Carroll Moore, and Lorenzo Music)
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| 1977
| The Mary Tyler Moore Show, "The Last Show" (with James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, Bob Ellison, David Lloyd, and Ed. Weinberger)
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| 1980
| Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
| Lou Grant, "Brushfire" (with Gene Reynolds)
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