Harvey Bullock, a prolific comedy writer and producer of film and TV, has passed away. Affected by a series of age-related illnesses, he died on Sunday, April 23, 2006, in Laguna Beach, California, with his family by his side. He was 84.
Bullock worked in animation on several Hanna-Barbera series. He was a writer on THE FLINTSTONES, THE JETSONS, TOP CAT, WELCOME TO IT and WHERE'S HUDDLES? He was the creator, exec producer and writer for the classic 1970s adult animated series, WAIT TILL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME.
His other writing credits in animation included the 1966 feature film A MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE; two 1962 episodes of THE JETSONS, "A Date with Jet Screamer" and "Jetsons Nite Out"; the 1974 ABC Afterschool Special CYRANO; and 1986's SAMSON & DELILAH, from the direct-to-video series THE GREATEST ADVENTURE: STORIES FROM THE BIBLE.
He was born on June 4, 1921 in Oxford, North Carolina.
His resume included such feature films as GIRL HAPPY, WITH SIX YOU GET EGGROLL and WHO'S MINDING THE MINT, in addition to dozens of classic live-action TV series like THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and HOGAN'S HEROES.
"Harvey was a good friend and a wonderful man. He had a fabulous sense of humor, and all those qualities went into his writing," said Griffith, his longtime friend.
Five days after graduating from Duke University with a B.A. in English, Pearl Harbor was bombed and Bullock joined the U.S. Naval Reserves. During his training at Notre Dame Midshipmen School, he began writing comedy skits. He served overseas as a naval officer for three years with a special operations unit called "Beach Jumpers." His duty was to write and transmit phony radio messages to fool the Nazis.
Bullock met his future wife while writing humorous commentary for Dave Garroway on NBC's TODAY. Betty Jane Folker was the show's fashion segment producer, and when the couple wed in 1954, Garroway proclaimed them "Today's Lovers" to the national audience.
After arriving in Los Angeles in the late 1950s, Bullock secured a writing job on the television series THE REAL MCCOYS. Word of his talents spread, and in 1961 he was hired by Aaron Ruben, producer of THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.
"I always looked forward to meetings with Harvey," said Ruben. "Any conversation you had with him was always engaging and frosted with humor. He had that wonderful gift."
Bullock and Allen received an Emmy nomination in 1976 for PAPA AND ME, a children's program, and a Random House Award in 1956 for the Gertrude Berg sketch on the TV special SALUTE TO BASEBALL.
Bullock's hobbies included creating walking canes with training wheels, converting an old gas pump into a flag-waving machine that played "The Star-Spangled Banner" and after watching the devastation Hurricane Andrew wrought, he built birdhouses to auction off, benefiting the victims.
Bullock is survived by his wife Betty; children Kerry Scarvie, Diana Bullock, Courtney Bullock and Andy Bullock; and grandchildren Sean Bullock, Samantha Scarvie and Andrew Scarvie.
Bullock's family held a private ceremony Saturday, April 29, that featured a marching band to celebrate his life. The family requests that donations be made to "Duke University." The check memo line or cover note should indicate the following: "Memorial gift in honor of Harvey Bullock for Marching Band Special Projects Fund." Office of Gift Planning, Duke University, 2127 Campus Drive, Box 90606, Durham, North Carolina 27708.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
