Multi-talented Leonard Stern has created, written and directed
an impressive twenty-three television series and written and
directed twelve motion pictures in a career spanning 26 years. He
has won three Emmy Awards, three Writers Guild of America Awards,
two Golden Globe Awards, as well as a Peabody Award, a Jimmie
Award, and numerous nominations from the Academy of Television
Arts and Sciences. He has also co-authored several books and
co-founded a book publishing company, Price Stern Sloan, Inc.
Mr. Stern began his career as a television writer. Early
highlights include a collaboration with Jackie Gleason which
culminated in the legendary "Honeymooners" show
followed by a season with Phil Silvers "The Bilko Show"
which led to "The Steve Allen Show" where he
served as the head writer and directed over 150 episodes.
Mr. Stern produced and devoted five years to the highly
successful "Get Smart" series and in the ensuing
years he created the critically well received "I’m
Dikens, He’s Fenster", "The Governor and
J.J." and "He and She". His career took a
mysterious turn when he wrote, directed and produced seven years
of "McMillan and Wife" starring Rock Hudson and
Susan Saint James, "The Snoop Sisters" with
Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick, and "Lannigan’s
Rabbi" with Art Carney.
His theatrical movie writing career includes such hits as
"Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion",
"The Jazz Singer" starring Danny Thomas and
"Three for the Money" with Jack Lemmon and Betty
Grable. He also co-wrote and directed his first feature film in
association with Columbia Pictures entitled, "Just You
and Me, Kid," starring George Burns. Mr. Stern followed
this by penning the original script for "Target"
a Twentieth Century Fox Film, featuring Gene Hackman and Matt
Dillon. He most recently wrote and directed "Missing
Pieces" with Eric Idle and Robert Wuhl.
This year commemorates the anniversary of the immensely
popular Mad Libs created with Roger Price, which
led to the formation of Price Stern Sloan Publishing. He has
authored Dear Attila the Hun and A Martian
Wouldn’t Say That!
For the past several years, Leonard Stern has officiated in a
dual capacity as President of the Producers Guild of America and
Chairman, he is a member of the Steering Committee and
Co-Chairman of the Caucus for Producers , Writers and Directors.
The Caucus named Mr. Stern "Member of the Year" for
outstanding lifetime achievement recognizing his impressive body
of work. In the Same year he was recipient of the
"Distinguished Service Award." In 1993, he received the
Charles FitzSimons Honorary Lifetime Member Award from the
Producers Guild of America.
In December 1996, Leonard Stern formed Tallfellow Inc. which
seeks to create what he terms a "story salon’ or an
"idea preserve" for gifted writers of all ages. The
company’s concept is to be a virtual in hours alternative
story department for producers, directors, studios and
independent filmmakers. His first project is "Pledge of
Allegiance" with Paramount Pictures.
LEONARD STERN