Remembering Steven Sunshine, writer & producer for hit shows like Webster and The New Odd Couple. He passed away at 81.
- April 7, 2026
AceShowbiz - Steven Sunshine, the accomplished writer and producer who contributed to popular TV series such as Webster and The New Odd Couple, has passed away at the age of 81.
Sunshine died on March 15 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, following a battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, according to a family spokesperson.
Throughout his career, Sunshine collaborated closely with his wife, Madeline Sunshine, co-writing and producing for the ABC sitcom Webster from 1983 to 1986, a series that starred Emmanuel Lewis, Alex Karras, and Susan Clark. The couple also wrote for the 1983 sitcom The New Odd Couple, featuring Ron Glass and Demond Wilson.
In addition to his television work, Sunshine co-wrote the script for the 1983 Blake Edwards film Son of the Pink Panther, which starred Roberto Benigni as the illegitimate son of Inspector Clouseau.
He and his wife later developed the 1992 ABC sitcom Julie, starring Julie Andrews as a TV personality who marries a veterinarian, played by James Farentino, and relocates to Iowa. The show was canceled after only six episodes.
Earlier, in 1989, the Sunshines developed the CBS sitcom The People Next Door, which starred Jeffrey Jones as a cartoonist. Co-created with Wes Craven, the series lasted just five episodes.
Born in the Bronx on March 9, 1945, Sunshine graduated from the University at Buffalo before pursuing his career in Hollywood.
Besides his writing and producing achievements, Sunshine spent 18 years as a senior producer and "star whisperer" on the syndicated TV newsmagazine Extra. During his tenure, he secured interviews with prominent figures such as Alec Baldwin, Al Pacino, President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama. The show paid tribute to him following his passing.
He and Madeline, a novelist, children’s author, and playwright, were married for 56 years. Together, they created Serrano the Musical, a theatrical production directed by Joel Zwick that blended elements from Cyrano de Bergerac and The Sopranos.
Sunshine also co-directed the 2012 documentary Committed with Howie Mandel and Reed Grinsell. The film focused on writer-performer Vic Cohen.
Additionally, he was a founding member of the Creative Coalition, an organization aimed at providing Hollywood figures with accurate political information to support their roles as media sources and public speakers.
