Johnnie Mortimer

John Edward Mortimer was a British scriptwriter for British TV whose work, along with creative writing partner Brian Cooke, also served as inspiration for American television projects.

Career

John Edward Mortimer was born in Clare, Suffolk, in 1930. He started out as a cartoonist, which brought him into contact with his writing partner Brian Cooke. Mortimer later wrote series for radio such as The Men from the Ministry and Round the Horne, before writing many TV situation comedies including Foreign Affairs, Father, Dear Father, Man About the House, Never the Twain, Robin's [Nest (TV series)|Robin's Nest] and George and Mildred, often working in partnership with Cooke. Versions of Man about the House, George & Mildred and Robin's Nest were later adapted as Three's Company, The Ropers and Three's A Crowd respectively.
The partnership also wrote two plays, the first a theatrical version of George and Mildred. The second was Situation Comedy, and featured two TV situation comedy writers struggling to come up with an idea for a new series.

Personal life and death

Mortimer and his wife, Jytte, had a son.
Mortimer lived in East Molesey, Surrey, and died there on 2 September 1992, at the age of 62, leaving an estate worth £1.2 million.