Brunner died of a heart attack on Oct. 28 near his home in Northridge, California.
Brunner got his start in the entertainment industry as a publicist in the early 1960s when he worked with Tony Bennett and Louis Armstrong. He then transitioned to TV writing for THE ODD COUPLE, executive-produced by his childhood friend Garry Marshall. The two frequently worked together, next when Brunner wrote for LAVERNE & SHIRLEY and then when he wrote 15 episodes and produced 37 episodes of HAPPY DAYS.
Brunner went on to co-create and executive-produce BROTHERS AND SISTERS and WORKING STIFFS, and executive-produced DIFF'RENT STROKES, WEBSTER and THE BAD NEWS BEARS (starring future THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Emmy winners Tricia Cast and Kristoff St. John).
He is survived by his three children, Robert Jr., Elizabeth and Jennifer, and six grandchildren. A private service was held Tuesday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where his wife Ann was laid to rest in 1987.
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