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Emmy-Winning “Golden Girls” Producer Dead At 77

Paul Junger Witt's credits also include "Soap," "Empty Nest," and "Dead Poets Society."

Golden Girls/NBC

The Golden Girls
By Brandon Voss
April 28, 2018 / 1:59 PM

Thank you for being a friend, Paul Junger Witt.

Michael Buckner/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 04: Actress Betty White (L) and producer Paul Junger Witt (R) attend the "Golden Girls Reunion" at the Sunset-Gower Studios on May 4, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Witt, a celebrated film and television producer whose credits include NBC's The Golden Girls and its short-lived spin-off, The Golden Palace, died Friday in Los Angeles following a long battle with cancer, Variety reports. He was 77.

Tony Thomas partnered with Witt in 1975 to form Witt/Thomas Productions. When Witt married Golden Girls creator Susan Harris in 1983, the company expanded as Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions.

Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - JULY 27: Producer Paul Junger Witt, Susan Harris and producer Tony Thomas attend the NBC Summer TCA Press Tour on July 27, 1991 at the Universal Hilton Hotel in Universal City, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Witt’s additional TV credits include The Partridge Family, Soap, Benson, Empty Nest, Blossom, Here Come the Brides, It’s a Living, Herman’s Head, Nurses, The John Larroquette Show, and the original Beauty and the Beast.

He also produced the films Dead Poets Society, Three Kings, Insomnia, and A Better Life.

Carlo Allegri/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 18: (L-R) Producer Paul Junger Witt talks as actresses Betty Whiteand Rue McClanahan listen during the Q&A for the DVD release party for "The Golden Girls" the first season at the Museum of Television and Radio November 18, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

The prolific producer won two Emmy Awards for Golden Girls, as well as another for the TV movie Brian’s Song. Dead Poets Society also earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

Born in New York City, Witt was known as a dedicated environmentalist. He is survived by his wife, Harris, and five children.

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