Robert Kaufman

{{about||the New York City attorney|Robert M. Kaufman|the perennial political candidate|A. Robert Kaufman}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}} {{Use American English|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox person |name=Robert Kaufman |birth_name= |birth_date={{birth date|1931|3|22}} |birth_place=United States |death_date={{death date and age|1991|11|21|1931|3|22}} |death_place=Beverly Hills, California, United States |occupation=Screenwriter, television writer, film producer |spouse = Robin Krause |children = 4 }}

'''Robert Kaufman''' (March 22, 1931 – November 21, 1991) was an American screenwriter, film producer and television writer known for such films and TV series as ''Getting Straight'', ''Love at First Bite'', ''Divorce American Style'', ''The Cool Ones'', ''Freebie and the Bean'', ''How to Beat the High Co$t of Living'', ''The Monkees'', and ''The Ugliest Girl in Town''.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130628021719/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/96904/Robert-Kaufman The New York Times]</ref><ref name=NYTRobKaufObit>[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/26/obituaries/robert-kaufman-60-tv-and-film-writer.html The New York Times: "Robert Kaufman, 60, TV and Film Writer"] November 26, 1991.</ref><ref name=LATimesRobKaufObit>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-23-mn-24-story.html The Los Angeles Times: "Robert Kaufman; Comedy Writer for Movies and TV" by Myrna Oliver] November 23, 1991</ref>

==Biography== Born to a Jewish family on March 22, 1931, Kaufman attended Columbia University for three years before leaving to hitchhike across the US and Europe.<ref name=LATimesRobKaufObit /> He then took a job as a publicist for Mort Sahl in New York City and later as a comedy writer in the late 1950s including as a writer for Dick Shawn.<ref name=LATimesRobKaufObit /> In 1961, he moved to Los Angeles where he focused on television scripts before landing his first film credit in 1965 for ''Ski Party''.<ref name=LATimesRobKaufObit />

In 1983, he signed a non-exclusive deal at Universal Pictures, where Kaufman worked as a writer-producer for the film studio.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1983-06-01|title=Bob Kaufman Inks 3-Comedy Pact with Universal; Starts Indie 'Check'|page=6|work=Variety}}</ref>

==Personal life== Kaufman was raised in Westport, Connecticut, and attended Staples High School. In a December 30, 1970, television appearance on ''The Dick Cavett Show'', Kaufman revealed that when his family moved to the town in 1941 they were the first Jewish family to reside in Westport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shoutfactorytv.com/the-dick-cavett-show/rock-icons-december-30-1970-little-richard/566a100b69702d083a210900|title=ShoutFactoryTV : Watch The Dick Cavett Show Episode : Rock Icons: December 30, 1970 Little Richard|website=www.shoutfactorytv.com|access-date=2019-04-08}}</ref>

He was married three times. He had four children from his first marriage:<ref name=LATimesRobKaufObit /> Melissa, Robin, Richard, and Christopher.<ref name=NYTRobKaufObit /> His third wife was Robin Krause.<ref name=NYTRobKaufObit />

Kaufman died in 1991. Services were held at Hillside Memorial Park.<ref name=LATimesRobKaufObit />

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|0442099}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaufman, Robert}} Category:American male screenwriters Category:American television writers Category:Jewish American screenwriters Category:Film producers from Los Angeles Category:1931 births Category:1991 deaths Category:American male television writers Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century American male writers Category:20th-century American screenwriters Category:20th-century American Jews