Allan Burns, Emmy-winning writer of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, passes away at age 85

Allan Burns, Emmy-winning writer of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, passes away at age 85

The writing community is in mourning on Sunday, with the news that Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated writer Allan Burns has passed away.

The writer, who won five Emmys, four for his work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, passed on Saturday, January 30, his friend Dan Pasternack confirmed to Variety.

His writing partner James L.  Brooks, who he shared his four Emmys on The Mary Tyler Moore Show with, also announced Burns’ death in a heartfelt tweet on Sunday.

R.I.P.: The writing community is in mourning on Sunday, with the news that Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated writer Allan Burns has passed away

‘Alan Burns, my writing partner during the Mary Tyler Moore days, died yesterday,’ Brooks began. 

‘His singular writing career brought him every conceivable recognition. But, you had to know him to appreciate his full rarity,’ he added.

‘He was simply the finest man I have ever known. A beauty of a human,’ Brooks concluded.

Writing partner: 'Alan Burns, my writing partner during the Mary Tyler Moore days, died yesterday,' Brooks began

Writing partner: ‘Alan Burns, my writing partner during the Mary Tyler Moore days, died yesterday,’ Brooks began

James' tweet: 'He was simply the finest man I have ever known. A beauty of a human,' Brooks concluded

James’ tweet: ‘He was simply the finest man I have ever known. A beauty of a human,’ Brooks concluded

Burns was born June 14, 1935 in Baltimore, Maryland and made his way west, attending the University of Oregon from 1953 to 1957.

He started his writing career in 1962 as a story editor on Father of the Bride, before he teamed up with Chris Hayward, as they both created The Munsters and My Mother The Car.

The writer won his first Emmy in 1968 for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy with Hayward for their work on the series He & She.

Writing career: He started his writing career in 1962 as a story editor on Father of the Bride, before he teamed up with Chris Hayward, as they both created The Munsters and My Mother The Car

Writing career: He started his writing career in 1962 as a story editor on Father of the Bride, before he teamed up with Chris Hayward, as they both created The Munsters and My Mother The Car

Burns teamed up with James L. Brooks in 1969, joining the writing staff of Brooks’ show Room 222.

While Room 222 was short-lived, they would continue to work together, creating the iconic comedy series The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

They would go on to win four Emmys from their work on the show, which ran for 168 episodes over seven seasons between 1970 and 1977.

Team: Burns teamed up with James L. Brooks in 1969, joining the writing staff of Brooks' show Room 222

Team: Burns teamed up with James L. Brooks in 1969, joining the writing staff of Brooks’ show Room 222

Burns and Brooks would go on to create Rhoda, Lou Grant, The Duck Factory, while Burns also wrote movies as well.

He wrote A Little Romance, which earned him an Oscar nomination, along with Butch and Sundance: The Early Days, Just The Way You Are, Just Between Friends and Second Time Lucky.

Burns is also credited with creating the Cap’n Crunch character for the popular cereal by Quaker. 

Other work: Burns is also credited with creating the Cap’n Crunch character for the popular cereal by Quaker

Other work: Burns is also credited with creating the Cap’n Crunch character for the popular cereal by Quaker