Veteran film and TV comedy writer Jeff Lowell died on August 24 in Virginia after a brief illness. He was 52.
Lowell started his career as a sitcom writer in the mid 1990s, working on such series as The George Carlin Show, Bless This House and The Drew Carey Show. He went on to serve as writer-producer on Cybil, Spin City, Sports Night, Just Shoot Me!, Inside Schwartz and hourlong comedy-drama Common Law.
In 2014, a half-hour script Lowell had originally developed three seasons prior was picked up to pilot by ABC. Titled Manhattan Love Story, the single-camera comedy starring Jake McDorman and Lio Tipton went to series which ran for one season.
Lowell continued to work steadily in television with stints on CBS’ Two and a Half Men; TV Land’s The Jim Gaffigan Show, which he executive produced; and Netflix’s The Ranch, created by 2.5 Men veterans Don Reo and Jim Patterson, on which he rose to executive producer.
Most recently, Lowell created, executive produced and served as showrunner on the multi-camera Netflix comedy series The Crew, starring Kevin James.
Lowell made his feature debut with the screenplay for the 2006 movie John Tucker Must Die, directed by Betty Thomas. His followup was the 2008 film Over Her Dead Body, which he wrote and directed. Other feature credits include Hotel For Dogs, which Lowell co-wrote, and Kevin James’ Home Team, which he produced.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
