Sherry Coben (September 1953 – October 16, 2024) was an American writer who created the 1980s situation comedy Kate & Allie[2] and the webseries Little Women, Big Cars.[3]

Sherry Coben
BornSeptember 1953
Died (aged 71)
OccupationWriter
Notable workKate & Allie
Children2[1]

Early life

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Coben was born in September 1953.[4] She grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and attended Cherry Hill High School West,[5] graduating in 1971. She attended both Swarthmore College and Cornell University.[4]

Career

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Coben started her media career in the art department at KYW-TV. Her first TV writing work was on the 1979-1980 children's show Hot Hero Sandwich, for which she received an Emmy Award. She then wrote for Ryan's Hope before selling her first pilot script, which became the series Kate & Allie.[4]

Personal life and death

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Coben married film editor Pat McMahon.[4] Their long-distance relationship inspired Coben's second pilot, Love Long Distance, about a couple divided between Philadelphia and New York City;[6] the pilot was shot but not picked up for a series.[4]

Coben died from cancer at her home in New Milford, New Jersey, on October 16, 2024, at the age of 71.[7]

References

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  1. ^ https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/sherry-coben-dead-kate-and-allie-1236181872/
  2. ^ O'Connor, John J. "'Kate & Allie,' About 2 Divorced Women, On CBS", The New York Times, March 19, 1984. Accessed December 1, 2007. "Created by Sherry Coben, the series has been fortunate enough to attract some first-rate talent, in front of and behind the cameras."
  3. ^ "Verizon Media".
  4. ^ a b c d e Wiser, Christina (May 24, 1985). "Kate & Allie' carries Cherry Hill writer into TV's hallowed land". Courier-Post.
  5. ^ Bianculli, David. "Kate/Allie Is Renewed, Creator Told", The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 28, 1984. Accessed October 19, 2024.
  6. ^ Shister, Gail (March 14, 1985). "A 2d series from 'Kate & Allie' creator". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  7. ^ Rice, Lynette (17 October 2024). "Sherry Coben Dies: Creator Of 'Kate & Allie' Was 71". Deadline. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
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