Duane Earl Poole, a writer and producer for Aaron Spelling, Hanna-Barbera and Sid & Marty Krofft, whose credits include Hard to Hard, The Love Boat, The Smurfs And Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, died of cancer on April 1 in Studio City, California. He was 74.
His death was announced by his husband, Frank V. Bonventre.
Poole was born on September 15, 1948 in Prescott, AZ and grew up in Kennewick, WA. Poole began working for King World Productions in Seattle after graduating from the University of Washington. He moved to Los Angeles in 1975 to work for Hanna-Barbera and soon became a prolific writer of cartoons such as Saturday Morning The Great Grape Ape, Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics, The All-New Super Friends Hour And The Smurfs, among other.
Poole also wrote for Sid and Marty Krofft, whose bizarre, colorful live-action shows rivaled Hanna-Barbera in popularity on Saturday mornings. Far Out Space Nuts, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, The Krofft Supershow And The Kroff Superstar Hour were among Poole’s merits.
In the early 1980s, Poole jumped into prime time writing and producing for shows like Aaron Spelling Hard to hard, the love boat, sparkle, Lottery! And Hotel.
Poole has also been a prolific writer and producer of television films since the 1990s, including Katharine Hepburn’s last two screen appearances – This can’t be love with Anthony Quinn and A Christmas with Julie Harris, Henry Winkler and Swoosie Kurtz – as well Truman Capote: A Christmas Memory with Patty Duke and Piper Laurie; Sarah Plain and Tall with Glenn Close and Christopher Walken; Survive Gilligan’s Island And Return to the Batcave; And A Season for Miracles starring Kathy Baker, Laura Dern, Lynn Redgrave, Patty Duke and Carla Gugino.
His many films have included Hallmark Channel and Lifetime The Edge of the Garden, The Memory Book, Christmas List, Royally Ever After, Next Stop Christmas, An Angel in the Family, A Timeless Christmas, A Very Vintage Christmas, Last Chance Llama Ranch, Honeymoon with Mom, For the Love of a child, fatal encounter, her best friend’s husband, And Go broke.
For the stage, Poole was the librettist for the musical adaptation of his film adaptation of Capotes A Christmas memory with music and lyrics by Carol Hall and Larry Grossman and Scrooge in love, with music and lyrics by Larry Grossman and Kellen Blair. He was the co-librettist with James Mellon for Dorian: A New Musical with music and lyrics by Mellon and Scott De Turk. At the time of his death, he was writing a new musical with Amanda McBroom and Michele Bourman.
Poole served on the Musical Theater Guild advisory board and wrote many fundraisers for the organization, including tributes to Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, and Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, among others. He was a member of the Writers Guild and represented by the Summit Talent & Literary Agency.
In addition to Bonventre, his husband of 22 years, Poole is survived by his father-in-law, Anthony Bonventre; in-laws Virginia Bonventre Cappelli, Patricia Bonventre and David Cappelli Sr.; and numerous nieces and nephews.