AJ Carothers

AJ Carothers (sometimes given as "A.J. Carothers") (October 22, 1931 – April 9, 2007) was an American playwright and television writer, best known for his work with Walt Disney, who was a close friend. Disney's daughter later spoke at Mr. Carothers' funeral. Carothers describes reaction to Disney's death at the studio in a video included at the Walt Disney Family Museum (San Francisco).

Life and career

Born in Houston, Texas on October 22, 1931, Carothers was older than his two siblings, Gibson and Lesley. He sold his first story, a murder mystery, to a classmate when he was 9 for 15 cents. After an Army stint in Panama – where he helped create the first television station in the Caribbean – he returned to Los Angeles to pursue his career in 1957. During his career, he wrote more than 100 motion pictures, television shows, and plays. His final works included writing the book for the Sherman Brothers stage musical Piccadilly (also called Busker Alley),^[2] which toured the U.S. in 1996, and was produced in November, 2006, by the York Theater Festival, and Two Can Play, which enjoyed successful runs in Kansas City and Virginia.

Carothers also wrote speeches for Nancy Reagan, John Ritter, Patrick Stewart, John Lithgow and many others. He wrote the scripts for the Music Center Spotlight Awards from its 1995 inception through 2006.

Carothers garnered many honors, including the Distinguished Artists Award given by the Los Angeles Music Center, numerous Box Office Blue Ribbon awards, and The Kinkaid School Distinguished Alumnus award. He was a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and served on its Writers Executive Committee, as well as The Writers Guild of America. The Los Angeles Times named him "Father of the Year" in 1967.

Carothers was married to Caryl Carothers for 47 years, and had three sons, Chris, Cameron, and Andrew.

In his later years, Carothers was diagnosed with cancer, which eventually took his life on April 9, 2007.

Major screenwriting credits

• The Secret of My Success (1987) (screenplay) (story)
• Hero at Large (1980)
• Never a Dull Moment (1968)
• The Happiest Millionaire (1967) (screenplay)
• Emil and the Detectives (1964)
• Miracle of the White Stallions (1963) also known as The Flight of the White Stallions (UK)

Major television writing credits

• Making of a Male Model (1983) (TV)
• Goodnight, Beantown (1983) (TV) including the pilot episode and the "Custody" episode
• Summer Girl (1983) (TV) also known as The Hands That Rob the Cradle
• Disneyland TV serial episodes including: "Never a Dull Moment" (1979) ; "Emil and the Detectives: Part 1" (1966), "Emil and the Detectives: Part 2" (1966); Flight of the White Stallions: Part 1" (1965) TV Episode (writer) "Flight of the White Stallions: Part 2" (1965) TV Episode (writer)
• The Thief of Baghdad (1978) (TV)
• Forever (1978) (TV)
• Topper Returns (1973) (TV) (as A.J. Carothers)
• Miss Stewart, Sir (1972) (TV) (as A.J. Carothers)
• Goldilocks (1971)
• Nanny and the Professor (1970) TV Series (creator) (writer) (executive script consultant) (executive story consultant)
• My Three Sons (5 episodes, 1961–1962) TV series (writer)
• Bourbon Street Beat (1959) TV Series (writer)
• The Third Man Episode: "The Man Who Died Twice" (1959) (as A.J. Carothers)
• Studio One (1948) TV Series (writer)

References