Buck Henry, The Graduate writer and Get Smart co-creator, dies at 89
Buck Henry, the screenwriter behind the classic 1967 film The Graduate and the co-creator of the popular 1960s television series Get Smart, has died. He was 89.
Henry died Wednesday in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack, a family member confirmed to Deadline Hollywood.
For his work on Mike Nichols’ The Graduate, which memorably starred Dustin Hoffman as a disillusioned college grad who falls for a much older woman and her daughter (played by Anne Bancroft and Katharine Ross), Henry earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. He was also nominated for Best Director (along with co-director Warren Beatty) for the 1978 film Heaven Can Wait.
Along with Mel Brooks, Henry created Get Smart, the iconic TV series spoofing the spy genre. The show would go on to spawn a revival as well as numerous films. For his work on the show, Henry won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy.
Other writing credits included special material for the 74th Academy Awards and work on the series Quark, The New Show, and The Garry Moore Show. Henry also penned the screenplays for films such as What’s Up, Doc?, The Owl and the Pussycat, Is There Sex After Death?, and The Day of the Dolphin. He joined forces once again with Nichols on the 1970 film Catch-22, for which he adapted the screenplay.
Although best known for his work behind the camera, Henry also held numerous memorable roles in front of it, including as one of the most frequent Saturday Night Live hosts during its early years. 30 Rock fans will also recognize him as Liz Lemon’s (Tina Fey) dad, Dick Lemon. He also had small roles in several of the shows and films he worked on.
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