Ron Leavitt
Ronald Leavitt (November 7, 1947 – February 10, 2008) was an American television writer and producer. He was the co-creator (with Michael G. Moye) of the American television show "Married... with Children". The show's 259 episodes over 11 seasons made it the second-longest lasting sitcom on the Fox network. Life and career. Raised in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, Leavitt began his television career in the 1970s writing episodes for the comedies "Busting Loose", "Happy Days", "Laverne & Shirley", and "The Bad News Bears" (for which he garnered an NAACP award). In the early 1980s, in addition  to writing and producing "The Jeffersons" (for which he won a People's Choice Award and a second NAACP award), Leavitt co-wrote the pilot for "Silver Spoons" and co-created and executive produced the Jason Bateman sitcom "It's Your Move". In the late 1980s, Leavitt co-created "Married... with Children", which, with its debut on the Fox network in 1987, broke many of the established rules and mores of television. He served as executive producer and wrote or co-wrote close to 150 episodes. Its longevity over 11 seasons made "Married... with Children" the second-longest running sitcom  on Fox, just behind "The Simpsons". Among its industry honors, "Married... with Children" earned seven Emmy nominations and an equal number of Golden Globe nominations, including Best TV Series. The show became a springboard for Leavitt to create a number of spin-offs, initially "Top of the Heap", starring Matt LeBlanc and Joseph Bologna, and "Vinnie & Bobby", starring Matt LeBlanc and Robert Torti. He subsequently co-created, executive produced, and wrote "Unhappily Ever After". In more recent years, Leavitt created and wrote several episodes of the WB's "The Help". Other achievements outside television include recognition by the State of  California as Citizen Hero of the Year in 2001, and the equally notable accomplishment of out-eating wrestler King Kong Bundy in a cheesesteak sandwich-eating contest at Dominick's Kitchen while Bundy was guest-starring on "Married... with Children". He had two children, Matt and Samantha. He also had long-time partner, Jessica Hahn. He died on February 10, 2008, from lung cancer.