News

Sherry Coben, writer-producer and creator of sitcom “Kate & Allie,” died Wednesday after facing cancer. Coben was 71 years old.

Coben began her career in the entertainment industry at Kyw-tv in Philadelphia, where she worked on sets, animation, illustration and graphics for the station’s local programming and “The Mike Douglas Show.” In an interview with Aeolus 13 Umbra, Coben said she moved to New York City four years later and worked as a freelance artist for several productions, from “the esteemed Children’s Television Workshop to NYC’s legendary cable porn ‘Midnight Blue.'”

Coben joined the staff of Bruce and Carol Hart’s “Hot Hero Sandwich” as a writer during this time, ultimately receiving an Emmy for her work on the show.

In the same 2023 interview, Coben shared that she was instrumental in her own big breakthrough. She explained, “I really wanted to break in as a writer so took...

Sherry Coben, a writer-producer who created the Emmy-winning 1980s sitcom “Kate & Allie,” died Oct. 16 of cancer in New Milford, N.J. She was 71.

Coben started out in the art department at Philadelphia’s Kyw-tv, working on graphics, sets, illustration and animation for local programming and “The Mike Douglas Show.” After moving to New York City, she worked freelance for TV shows and magazines, then broke in as a writer on the children’s program “Hot Hero Sandwich,” for which she won a Daytime Emmy.

She went on to writer for the ABC soap opera “Ryan’s Hope” before creating the CBS sitcom “Kate & Allie.” Starring Jane Curtin and Susan St. James as divorced mothers who raise their children together, the show won several Emmys and ran for six seasons. St. James is the more spirited of the pair, while Curtin, who won two consecutive Emmys for her role, is the more conservative mom.

Michael Galeota, the child star best known for his work on Disney Channel's The Jersey, died Sunday in California. The 31-year-old was found in his Glendale residence, E! reported, initially attributing his death to natural causes. (The L.A. County Coroner's office told the outlet Galeota dealt with "abdominal pain, hypertension, and high cholesterol.") Further examination is scheduled for later on Tuesday. "[Galeota] was a precious gift — loving, giving, compassionate, joyful and intelligent," wrote his brother Jimmy, on a GoFundMe page created Monday. "His humble nature hid a great compassionate and loving human being, with a huge heart." Galeota was a familiar face in movies and TV shows of the ’90s and early 2000s, including The Baby-Sitters Club, Bailey Kipper's P.O.V., Bushwhacked, Clubhouse Detectives, ER, and, most notably, The Jersey, where he had a starring role that also became his last. At time of publication, Galeota's GoFundMe page had raised...

Former Disney Channel Star Michael Galeota has died at age 31. The actor's body was discovered in his home Sunday, according to Los Angeles Medical Examiner records obtained by People. The coroner has declared his death of natural causes and an autopsy is scheduled to take place in the near future. TMZ reports that Galeota went to the hospital with abdominal pain last week, and left Wednesday against doctor's advice. A friend reportedly became worried when he had not heard from Galeota, so he went to his Glendale home, where the friend found the actor's body. Galeota starred as Nick Lighter...

Former Disney Channel Star Michael Galeota has died at age 31. The actor's body was discovered in his home Sunday, according to Los Angeles Medical Examiner records obtained by People. The coroner has declared his death of natural causes and an autopsy is scheduled to take place in the near future. TMZ reports that Galeota went to the hospital with abdominal pain last week, and left Wednesday against doctor's advice. A friend reportedly became worried when he had not heard from Galeota, so he went to his Glendale home, where the friend found the actor's body. Galeota starred as Nick Lighter...