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Allan Blye, an Emmy-winning writer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” and “Van Dyke and Company,” died Friday morning at home in Palm Desert, Calif., a family spokesperson confirmed. He was 87.

In 1968, Tom and Dick Smothers convinced Blye to move to Los Angeles to serve as head writer and producer on their new variety show, CBS’ “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” There, Blye worked alongside young comedians such as Bob Einstein, Steve Martin, Rob Reiner and Carl Gottlieb. The show won an Emmy for best writing in a variety comedy television series in 1969.

Blye wrote and produced many shows throughout his career, including “The Andy Williams Show,” “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,” “The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show,” “That’s My Mama,” “The Bobby Vinton Show” and “The Ray Stevens Show,” which he co-created with Chris Bearde. Blye also co-wrote several TV specials, such as Elvis Presley’s 1968 “Comeback Special...

Allan Blye, a comedy writer who joined Fred Rogers in the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood predecessor MisteRogers, has died at 87. Blye died at home in Palm Desert, California, on the morning of Friday, October 4, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on July 19, 1937, Blye started his showbiz career as a singer, as THR reports. After a childhood spent performing solos in his synagogue’s choir, Blye sang on variety radio shows across his native Canada. When Blye was in his early 20s, Rogers hired him to play Captain Blye on MisteRogers, which the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation aired between 1971 and 1967. Blye appeared in 44 episodes of the show between 1963 and 1967, his IMDb filmography shows. In 1968, Tom and Dick Smothers got Blye to move to Los Angeles to join the writers and ...

Allan Blye, an Emmy-winning comedy writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Van Dyke and Company, has died. He was 87.

Blye died Friday morning at his home in Palm Desert, California, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The cause of death wasn’t immediately available.

Born on July 19, 1937, in Winnipeg, Canada, Blye went from being a child soloist in his synagogue’s choir to becoming a featured singer on variety radio shows all across Canada.

In his early 20s, he eventually caught Fred Rogers’ attention and went on to originate the role of Captain Blye on MisteRogers (which later became Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood) from 1961-65.

In 1968, Tom and Dick Smothers convinced Blye to move to Los Angeles to write and produce their new show, CBS’ The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. It was there that he worked alongside young comedians such as Steve Martin, Bob Einstein, Rob Reiner and Carl Gottlieb.

Let's revisit the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood TV show and TV series finale, hosted by the lovely and talented Fred Rogers. The show began on Canada's CBC in 1963, with the title stylized MisteRogers.In 1966, it first aired as MisteRogers' Neighborhood on Een. In 1968 the show moved to National Education Television (Net) which would be replaced by PBS. The title was eventually re-styled as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The Mister Rogers' Neighborhood TV series finale first aired 15 years ago today, on August 31, 2001.Fred McFeely Rogers hosted the children's show, which featured Betty Aberlin (Lady Aberlin), David Newell (Mr. McFeely), Joe Negri (Handyman Negri), Robert Trow (Robert Troll), Chuck Aber (Neighbor Aber), Bill Barker (Dr. Bill Platypus), Audrey Roth (Miss Paulifficate), Don Brockett (Chef Brockett), François Scarborough Clemmons (Officer Clemmons), Betty Seamans (Mrs. McFeely) and...