Mike Milligan may not be a name that you have heard before. But you have certainly seen the TV sitcoms he worked on as a writer and producer with exceptional talent, like ground-breakers such as Maude, All in the Family, and The Jeffersons. Milligan passed away at the age of 77 on December 20, 2024, per The Hollywood Reporter. He had acute respiratory failure. He died in West Hills, California, where he resided.
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Mike Milligan Had An Amazing Career And Background
He Truly Had A Gift For What He Did And He Did It Well
After graduating from Loyola Marymount University, Milligan served in the Air Force. But he was drawn to writing and had an aptitude for it. He had a writing partner, Jay Moriarty. They were a creative duo for nearly two decades.
Milligan And His Writing Partner Worked On Shows Like 'The Jeffersons' With Notable Success
Their joint milestones included writing and producing popular TV shows like the late 1970s sitcom, The Jeffersons, for 49 episodes, according to the outlet. That program dealt with some highly sensitive issues at a time when they were rarely front and center, like white supremacy, suicide, and being transgender. Milligan and Moriarty earned an NAACP Image Award for the quality and timeliness of their work.
Milligan Worked On Some OF The Most Beloved, Most Socially Incisive Sitcoms Of Their Era
He Belonged To The Writers Guild Of America For Over Half A Century
Mike Milligan was prolific and incredibly gifted. The shows he had a hand in included What's Happening Now, Good Times, Melba, Here and Now, and Dear John.
He had yet another noteworthy achievement in television. Per the outlet, "Milligan also created and wrote the original Telemundo series Los Beltran (1990-2001) with Carlos Bermudez. The show received an Alma Award for best comedy series, a Golden Eagle Award for outstanding comedy series and an Imagen Foundation Award for best comedy series."
Milligan is survived by Jill, his wife, son John, and sister Jeri (Milligan) Gesto, plus two stepdaughters, Mischon Beneda and Dionn Avant.
There will be a memorial service for Mike Milligan sometime in 2025.
