Paul Manning

Manning, Paul (45)
Writer for "LA Law," "ER," "Clubhouse" - and Himself Paul Manning, one of the original Emmy-winning writers and supervising producers for the TV drama "ER," died peacefully at home in Sherman Oaks on Sunday. He was 45. The cause of death was colorectal cancer. Paul learned the basics of his craft at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, where he was profoundly influenced by the late great teacher and director of AFI, Tony Vellani. Paul got his first break on network television as a writer for "L.A. Law." He left "ER" after its first three seasons to write and produce pilots for Warner Brothers over the next three years. He then allowed himself a three-year sabbatical to explore a wide range of personal interests. He traveled with his family, took boxing and acting lessons, taught writing to disadvantaged youths, and experimented with short stories, a play, and other forms of writing. He returned to TV last summer, as an executive consultant to the Aaron Spelling-Icon-CBS series "Clubhouse." And, just last week, Paul completed the outline for Imagine Television and CBS of a show about a small-time cop having to deal with big-time crime in Hawaii - that is, sort of the dark side of paradise. Paul was born in Madison, Wisconsin on December 3, 1959 to the former Charlotte Seaman and Gene Manning. He grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, worked in video production in Bethesda, and then moved to Los Angeles to attend AFI. He married his high school sweetheart, Rebeca Medina, and they made L.A. their home. She survives with their children, Daniel and Charlotte Rose, ages 12 and 10, who attend Campbell Hall. Paul's parents, his brothers Michael and John, and other members of the Manning, Medina, Seaman, and related families also survive. Pastor Colm O'Ryan will celebrate a memorial mass for Paul at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to The Paul Manning Memorial Fund at the International Medical Corps, 1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300, Santa Monica, CA 90404 (or go to "Tribute Gifts" at www.imcworldwide.org) to address Paul's distress about the sufferings of the people of Sudan.