Sherry Coben, a writer-producer best known for creating Kate & Allie, died Oct. 16 of cancer at her home in New Milford, NJ. She was 71.
Coben was the mastermind behind the Emmy-winning comedy that starred Jane Curtin and Susan St. James. Shot in the Ed Sullivan Theater, Kate & Allie quickly became a top 10 hit and ran for six seasons on CBS.
Coben began her career in the art department at KYW-TV in Philadelphia, doing graphics, sets, illustration, and animation for all their local programming and The Mike Douglas Show. After moving to New York City and working freelance as an artist for a wide range of television shows and magazines, she got her break in writing on the beloved NBC children’s program Hot Hero Sandwich, for which she received an Emmy Award.
She went on to write for the ABC soap opera Ryan’s Hope in 1980 before creating the hit CBS sitcom four years later. It lasted until 1989.
Coben also served as a writer-producer on the CBS television series Bailey Kipper’s P.O.V. and creator-writer of the web series Little Women, Big Cars.
In addition to her work as a writer-producer, Coben was a proud mentor and active volunteer in service of the next generation of high-caliber writers, performers, artists, and human beings.
She is survived by her husband, film editor Patrick McMahon, and her daughters, Kaley McMahon and Jama McMahon.
