Writer George Yanok (Welcome Back, Kotter), RIP - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 05-15-2022, 02:10 PM

Reported here by Sitcom's Online's Pavan:

George Yanok
Emmy-winning producer and director George Yanok, who worked on Welcome Back, Kotter, has died. He died on April 29 in Nashville, Tennessee. He suffered from lung cancer in the 18 months leading up to his death. Mr. Yanok was 83.

Yanok was a producer on Welcome Back, Kotter from 1976 to 1977. He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1976 for his work. Some of his other sitcom producing credits included The Kallikaks, Tabitha, The Stockard Channing Show, Teachers Only, Too Close for Comfort, What a Country! and Out of This World.

He was one of the original writers of Hee Haw. Some of his sitcom writing credits included The Bob Newhart Show (1972), Love, American Style (2 episodes), Sanford and Son (2 episodes), The Practice (1976), The Kallikaks, Welcome Back, Kotter, (8 episodes - he also appeared as Mr. Ferguson in "Career Day"), Tabitha (2 episodes), The Stockard Channing Show (5 episodes), Teachers Only (4 episodes), 1st & Ten, Too Close for Comfort (8 episodes), What a Country! and Out of This World (3 episodes).

Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Laura, his stepdaughter Katie Hill and his stepson John.

Mr. Yanok won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy, Variety or Music and Outstanding Comedy Series in 1974 and 1976, in recognition of his work on the comedy special Lily (1973) and The Lily Tomlin Special (1975). We thank him for his work on television. He will be greatly missed.

POSTED BY PAVAN -- SITCOMSONLINE.COM AT 12:00 PM

Dude111 · 05-15-2022, 05:38 PM

Very sad

Dr. Thong · 05-16-2022, 07:45 PM

He made a cameo appearance in the season 2 opener, playing a disc jockey who talked to the Sweathogs on career day.

The joke was that he delivered his speech in his best DJ voice, with all the slick patter, but once he was done, his voice changed to a wheezy, weak whimper.

AB · 05-17-2022, 05:43 PM

Rest in peace.

05-15-2022, 02:10 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Writer George Yanok (Welcome Back, Kotter), RIP Reported here by Sitcom's Online's Pavan: George Yanok Emmy-winning producer and director George Yanok, who worked on Welcome Back, Kotter, has died. He died on April 29 in Nashville, Tennessee. He suffered from lung cancer in the 18 months leading up to his death. Mr. Yanok was 83. Yanok was a producer on Welcome Back, Kotter from 1976 to 1977. He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1976 for his work. Some of his other sitcom producing credits included The Kallikaks, Tabitha, The Stockard Channing Show, Teachers Only, Too Close for Comfort, What a Country! and Out of This World. He was one of the original writers of Hee Haw. Some of his sitcom writing credits included The Bob Newhart Show (1972), Love, American Style (2 episodes), Sanford and Son (2 episodes), The Practice (1976), The Kallikaks, Welcome Back, Kotter, (8 episodes - he also appeared as Mr. Ferguson in "Career Day"), Tabitha (2 episodes), The Stockard Channing Show (5 episodes), Teachers Only (4 episodes), 1st & Ten, Too Close for Comfort (8 episodes), What a Country! and Out of This World (3 episodes). Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Laura, his stepdaughter Katie Hill and his stepson John. Mr. Yanok won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy, Variety or Music and Outstanding Comedy Series in 1974 and 1976, in recognition of his work on the comedy special Lily (1973) and The Lily Tomlin Special (1975). We thank him for his work on television. He will be greatly missed. POSTED BY PAVAN -- SITCOMSONLINE.COM AT 12:00 PM
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

05-15-2022, 05:38 PM	#2
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,438	Very sad

05-16-2022, 07:45 PM	#3
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	He made a cameo appearance in the season 2 opener, playing a disc jockey who talked to the Sweathogs on career day. The joke was that he delivered his speech in his best DJ voice, with all the slick patter, but once he was done, his voice changed to a wheezy, weak whimper.

05-17-2022, 05:43 PM	#4
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,426	Rest in peace.