ALLAN P. BURNS

1935 - 2021

May 18, 1935 - January 30, 2021 Allan Burns escaped this mortal realm on Saturday, January 30 at the age of 85. His family suspects he willed it so, if only to avoid watching a second failed impeachment of Donald Trump.

Allan leaves behind an amazing life, his beautiful wife Joan Bailey Burns, two loving sons, Eric and Matt, his daughters-in-law Ana and Lee, and five doting grandchildren. Born in Baltimore to attorney Donald L. Burns and Paulene (Dobbling) Burns, Allan lost his father at 9 due to complications of mustard gas poisoning from the Battle of Belleau Wood during WWI. Three years later, Allan and his mother fled Baltimore for the sweet song that is Hawaii in 1947. Allan blossomed at Punahou School in Honolulu and discovered a talent for animation and writing, eventually having cartoons published in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

In 1953, Allan began attending the University of Oregon, hoping to become an architect but dropped out after his sophomore year because he wasn't the physics and engineering whiz he needed to be to complete an architecture degree. In need of work, Allan drove to Los Angeles and eventually landed a job as a page at NBC, which would change the trajectory of his life. Television was a new medium in those days, and having the opportunity to watch back-to-back live broadcasts (first East Coast, then West Coast) fascinated him. He made a decision then to start writing in earnest, and quickly was recognized as a prodigy and hired on staff....oh let's be real, he-like all writers in Hollywood before him-passed around his work and it mostly went nowhere.

After his page stint at NBC and in need of further employment, Allan began creating humorous greeting cards and eventually did enough work to make his way into the cartoon world of Jay Ward Studios, helping create The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Dudley Do-Right, George of the Jungle, Tom Slick and the character Cap'n Crunch for General Mills (only to see zero residuals). This eventually segued into television, co-creating The Munsters, Get Smart, and his most misunderstood masterpiece - My Mother the Car.

Later, he worked on He and She and the groundbreaking Room 222. Then came his most well-known work, when he co-created The Mary Tyler Moore Show with James L. Brooks, which won multiple Emmy Awards. Later came the spin-offs Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant. After several years of the the successful, serious tone of Lou Grant, he went back to sitcoms, creating two shows, FM and then Eisenhower & Lutz. One night at the Comedy Store, Allan discovered a young Jim Carrey and created The Duck Factory, coming full circle: a show about writing cartoons.

Allan also wrote for the silver screen, highlighted by his nomination for an Academy Award for A Little Romance, starring Diane Lane and Lawrence Olivier.

He also wrote and directed Just Between Friends with his old friend Mary Tyler Moore.

Allan's work was bestowed with honors, including the prestigious George Peabody, Valentine Davies and Paddy Chayefsky Awards. Allan also helped an untold number of aspiring hopefuls get their start in the entertainment business. In his home office sit his Emmys and other keepsakes that are a testament not only to his talent as a writer but his works in the community.

An Angeleno for 65 years, Allan loved the Arts and worked hard for many causes: the Joffrey Ballet, Center Theater Group, The Music Center, The Jazz Bakery, The Henry Mancini Institute and the Rape Treatment Center in Santa Monica. He also served on the Board of the Writer's Guild and sat for decades on the Board of the Writer's Guild Foundation. His dedication to advancing the human condition was inherent to who he was.

Allan died of complications from Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.

Following his wishes, there will be a family service held in private. There will be a memorial in the months ahead - even Allan would have never guessed that his planned future memorial would be dependent on the concept of "herd immunity," but there you have it.

In memory of Allan, donations may be sent to The Allan '53 and Joan Burns Fund, c/o The Punahou School, 1601 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96822, or through the School's website at www.punahou.edu and please mention the fund in the "Other" section. Allan credited Punahou with his development as a writer and, because he had been on a scholarship, this effort will endow a fund to allow underprivileged kids the chance to attend this wonderful school.

His wife and descendents miss Allan dearly, now and forever.