Comedy Showrunner Alan Kirschenbaum Dies at 51

Alan Kirschenbaum died on Friday, his agency, CAA, has confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 51 years old.

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The TV vet spent over three decades writing for various sitcoms, starting with work on Everything's Relative and Dear John in the late 1980's. He later wrote for Coach and Everybody Loves Raymond, then served as co-exec producer and writer on Stark Raving Mad and Yes, Dear, the Anthony Clark-Jean Louisa Kelly CBS comedy that he also co-created.

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More recently, Kirschenbaum was a consulting producer on NBC's My Name is Earl and Fox's Raising Hope, and then co-created with Ajay Saghal the upcoming CBS sitcom Friend Me, about two kids who move out from the midwest to Los Angeles to work for web giant Groupon.

He was remembered by his colleagues at CBS Saturday.

"We are stunned and devastated to hear the news this morning of Alan's passing.  We have lost a long-time colleague, a valued friend and truly one of the most well liked individuals in our midst," read a statement from the network.  "We will remember a gifted and successful comedy writer/producer who shared generously of his time beyond his show duties to help the network and studio in a variety of ways; a kind and gentle man; and a warm and witty conversationalist who could always be seen chatting up many on our lot ranging from assistants to senior executives.  Everyone at CBS truly loved Alan and he will be deeply missed.  Our hearts grieve for his wife Vicki, daughter Molly, sister Judi, mother Ethel and his father, comedian Freddie Roman, and all of Alan's family and friends."