- Born
- Died
- Al Gordon was born in Akron, Ohio in 1923 but moved to The Bronx as a child. He was the middle of three children, with an older brother and a younger sister. After finishing high school, Al joined the Air Corps and spent time on bases throughout the US before moving to Tersiera. A plane of entertainers arrived at his station, and several of the men in the barrack were writers. As they labored on a Broadway-bound show, APO Zoot, Al offered writing ideas and suggestions. One year later, these same writers flew Al to Hollywood, where he got his start as a radio writer for Jack Benny. From the time he started until he retired in the early 1990's, Al was employed every single television season. His knack for quick thinking, combined with his partner's speedy typing, powered his career in sitcoms. A pioneer in entertainment, Al won three Primetime Emmys and received nine nominations in his lifetime. Al was married to Charlotte Berkus (who was a first cousin twice removed to Nate Berkus) until her death in 2008. In the last eight years of her life, Al was her constant companion through a battle with Alzheimer's disease. They had two children: director/producer Neil Gordon and writer Jill Gordon. Al passed away suddenly in May 2012. His comedy expertise lives on in his grandchildren, including writer/actress 'Victoria Gordon (II)' and director Natalie Gordon.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Victoria Gordon
- SpouseCharlotte Gordon(? - 2008) (her death, 2 children)
- He lived the first seven years on a farm outside Akron, Ohio. At the beginning of the Great Depression in 1930, his parent moved to the Bronx in New York City where he moved six times and attended five elementary schools. He joined the military while a student at Theodore Roosevelt High School and never graduated.
- He is survived by his son, Neil Gordon and daughter, Jill Gordon; and four grandchildren.
- He served in the United States Army Air Forces on the Azores during World War II in a plane carrying an entertainment troupe made an unscheduled landing because of engine trouble. He began helping comedy writers with their writing. A comedy writer remembered him and tracked him down later to offer him a job in Hollywood.
- He was part of the Al Gordon and Hal Goldman comedy writing team for television shows. Jack Benny referred to him and Goldman as the new writers.
- Grandfather of Victoria Gordon.
- Hal and I had the best jobs in Hollywood. We worked for a man who was truly a prince in this business. There's no way we could that work today.
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