Chris Thompson (TV producer) facts for kids

Chris Thompson (born 1952 – died June 26, 2015) was an American television writer and producer. He helped create many popular TV shows and movies.

Starting in 1977, he wrote and produced for famous TV series like Laverne & Shirley and The Larry Sanders Show. Chris Thompson also created, wrote, and produced shows such as Bosom Buddies, The Naked Truth, and Action. He also worked on the Disney Channel original series, Shake It Up. Besides TV, he co-wrote the movies Jumpin' Jack Flash and Back to the Beach.

Chris Thompson's Career in TV and Film

Chris Thompson, whose full name was Christopher Thompson, started his career when he was 23 years old. A TV producer saw him perform improv comedy in Los Angeles. The producer was very impressed. Chris thought this was his chance to become an actor. Instead, it was the start of his amazing career as a writer and producer. The producer offered him a job as an apprentice writer for a show called Sirota's Court.

Early TV Shows and Success

Soon after, Chris met a famous producer named Garry Marshall. He began working as a writer on Blansky's Beauties. This show starred Nancy Walker and Scott Baio. After that, he joined the team for Laverne & Shirley. He worked on this popular show for seven years. He started as a writer and later became an executive producer. An executive producer helps manage the entire production of a show.

Chris Thompson then created the comedy show Bosom Buddies for Paramount Studios. This show was about two men who pretended to be women to live in an affordable all-female hotel.

More Writing and Producing Work

His other writing and producing jobs include many well-known shows. These include The Naked Truth, Action, and Ladies Man. He also worked on The Larry Sanders Show, House Rules, and Hard Knocks. Over his career, he helped develop more than 30 pilot episodes for different TV networks and studios.

Chris also wrote for movies. His film writing credits include Jumpin' Jack Flash and Back to the Beach.

Creating Disney's Shake It Up

In 2010, Chris Thompson created and was an executive producer for the Disney Channel show Shake It Up. This show was a dance-focused sitcom. It became very popular with young audiences. He left the series after its first season.

Chris Thompson's Personal Life

Chris Thompson was born in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Los Angeles, California.

Family and Relationships

In the early 1980s, Chris Thompson was married to director Lyndall Hobbs. They had one daughter together, named Lola Rose Thompson.

Later, Chris married Tracy Bjork in 1990. They had two children, Taylor and Richard. Their marriage lasted for thirteen years.

Chris Thompson married Curran Sympson in 2008.

Later Years and Legacy

Chris Thompson passed away on June 26, 2015, after a long illness. He was 63 years old. Many stars he had worked with shared messages about him. Actress Bella Thorne, who starred in Shake It Up, said that Chris had been "like a father to her at an early age." He lived with his wife, Curran Sympson Thompson, and their pets. Curran passed away four years later in 2019.

Filmography

Here is a list of some of the TV shows and movies Chris Thompson worked on:

• Sirota's Court (1976–1977) (TV)
• Blansky's Beauties (1977) (TV)
• Laverne & Shirley (1977–1979) (TV)
• Bosom Buddies (1980–1982) (TV)
• The President of Love (1984) (TV)
• Slickers (1985) (TV)
• Jumpin' Jack Flash (with Charles Shyer, Nancy Meyers and David Franzoni) (1986)
• Hard Knocks (1987) (TV)
• Back to the Beach (with Peter Krikes and Steve Meerson) (1987)
• Lola (1990) (TV)
• Big Deals (1991) (TV)
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1993) (TV)
• Dave's World (1994) (TV)
• The Naked Truth (1995–1997) (TV)
• House Rules (1998) (TV)
• Action (1999) (TV)
• Ladies Man (1999) (TV)
• Trash (2003) (TV)
• Shake It Up (2010–2013) (TV)