He was wonderfully, deliciously funny, prodigiously gifted and had a heart the size of Wyoming.
I only knew Larry Gelbert a tiny bit. He hosted several events for PEN USA when I was on the board and helped us out at other times whenever we asked and he was able.
I’m glad I got to know him at all.
When certain people die it feels as if that they take with them some crucial bit of light from the world. Larry Gelbart is one of those people. But in his case, through his work and his personal relationships, he left behind him so very much more light than his death could ever take away.
The above is a lovely interview—informative and chatty— that also features clips from some of his creations: M.A.S.H, Tootsie, Oh, God! and Blame it On Rio.
(NOTE: The clips are at the very beginning, so if you want to see them without listening to the rest of the interview, you can do so easily. Yet for lovers of writing and lovers of movies, give it a listen when you have a minute. Just go about your business and let the conversation drift over you. You’ll find it’s more than worth your time. I promise.)
Here’s a short but good tribute to Gelbart by Bob Simon on NPR.
Mastergate was one of his greatest unsung creations. Sly Fox was also terrific.