Elroy Schwartz facts for kids

Elroy Schwartz was a talented American writer who created funny stories for TV shows and movies. He was born on June 23, 1923, and passed away on June 14, 2013.

Elroy Schwartz's Early Life

Elroy Schwartz was born in Passaic, New Jersey, on June 23, 1923. He had two brothers, Al and Sherwood Schwartz, who also became famous writers. His family later moved to the Bronx, where he went to school.

He attended New York University and then joined the United States Air Force. Elroy served in the Air Force for two years. After his service, he moved to Los Angeles with his family. He started his writing career working for radio shows in California. Later, he moved back to New York City to write for game shows in the 1950s, before returning to Los Angeles.

Elroy Schwartz's Writing Career

Elroy Schwartz wrote for some of the biggest comedy stars of his time. These included Lucille Ball, Groucho Marx, and Bob Hope. He was also a main writer for the popular TV show Gilligan's Island. This show was created by his brother, Sherwood Schwartz.

Writing for TV Shows

Elroy Schwartz wrote for many different kinds of TV shows. He worked on funny sitcoms, exciting dramas, and fun game shows. In the 1950s, he wrote for quiz shows like You Bet Your Life, which was hosted by Groucho Marx. He also wrote for The $64,000 Question.

Later, in the late 1960s and 1970s, he wrote for TV dramas. Some of these shows included The Six Million Dollar Man and It Takes a Thief.

Working on Gilligan's Island

Elroy Schwartz is probably best known for his work on Gilligan's Island. This funny show was on TV from 1964 to 1967. In 1964, his brother Sherwood hired him to write and edit scripts for the new series. The show was about seven people who get stuck on an island after a "three-hour tour."

Elroy once said that many writers didn't think the show would work. They thought it was hard to believe you could make 30 episodes about people stuck on an island. But Gilligan's Island became a huge hit!

Elroy Schwartz also wrote the scripts for several Gilligan's Island television movies. These included a two-part movie in 1978 called Rescue from Gilligan's Island. He also wrote The Castaways on Gilligan's Island in 1979, and The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island in 1981.

Elroy Schwartz's Personal Life

Outside of his TV work, Elroy Schwartz had other interesting hobbies. He was a licensed hypnotherapist and had an office in Palm Springs. He also enjoyed painting and exploring past life regressions. He even wrote several books, both non-fiction and fiction.

Elroy Schwartz lived in Palm Springs, California, for over thirty years.

Elroy Schwartz's Passing

Elroy Schwartz passed away on June 14, 2013, in Palm Desert, California. He was 89 years old, just nine days before his 90th birthday. He died from complications after surgery. He was survived by his wife of 67 years, Beryl, their two daughters, Nan Schwartz and Jill Moramarco, and one granddaughter.