Tom Whedon, TV Writer-Producer and Father of Joss Whedon, Dies at 83

staff@people.com (Aaron Couch)
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Tom Whedon, TV Writer-Producer and Father of Joss Whedon, Dies at 83

Tom Whedon, a veteran TV writer and producer who worked on shows including The Golden Girls and Captain Kangaroo, died Thursday at 83, his son Jed announced.

Whedon was father to five sons, including Avengers director and Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. writer-producer Jed, Halt and Catch Fire writer Zack Whedon, Samuel and Matthew.

"We said goodbye to our dad yesterday," Jed, 41, wrote on Instagram Friday. "He passed away in relative peace surrounded by his wife, all five of his boys and their loved ones. He gave us the gift of his warmth and humor. We miss him terribly. Love you dad."

Thomas Avery Whedon, 1932 - 2016. We said goodbye to our dad yesterday. He passed away in relative peace surrounded by his wife, all five of his boys and their loved ones. He gave us the gift of his warmth and humor. We miss him terribly. Love you dad.

A photo posted by Jed Whedon (@misterkarate) on Mar 24, 2016 at 5:58pm PDT


Whedon's other credits included writing work on The Dick Cavett Show, All's Fair and Benson. He won a Primetime Emmy for the children's show The Electric Company in 1973 and earned four other nominations during his career.