Veteran television producer, Stephen C. Grossman, whose many credits include eight years as a coordinating producer on the 1980s CBS sitcom “Newhart,” died Thursday from coronavirus complications. He was 76 years old.
Actor Alex Ben Block shared Grossman’s obituary with TheWrap on behalf of the family.
Grossman’s long career as a producer began in 1977 at Mary Tyler Moore Enterprises, where he worked on several pilots and series, including “The Betty White Show,” “Mary” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Comedy Hour.”
After leaving MTM in 1990, Grossman was active in several production companies including Warner Bros., Paramount TV, Disney and Carci-Werner, as well as working with Ted Turner, Aaron Spelling and Steven Bochco.
His many TV credits include the 1997 CBS sitcom “George and Leo” with Newhart and Judd Hirsch, and the NBC comedy “Hope and Gloria”.
Grossman also served as co-president of the American Association of Producers, where he was instrumental in the merger with the Producers Guild of America. At the PGA, he helped start the Guild’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Prior to becoming a producer, he was an actor who studied on Broadway, did stage-management at The Circle at the Square Theatre, and worked for director Gil Cates.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan; their daughter, Jennifer; a son-in-law, Spencer Burke; and a grandson, Brendan, as well as two sisters and a brother.
Funeral services will be held at Groman Eden Morgue in Mission Hills, Calif. on Thursday, November 3 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Parkinson Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
