Hank Bradford, head author for “The Tonight Present Starring Johnny Carson” and “The Late Present Starring Joan Rivers,” died Jan. 18 in Los Angeles, his household stated. He was 88 and the trigger was congestive coronary heart failure.

Bradford served as Carson’s head author between 1970 and 1975.

“As head author on The Tonight Present, he was admired and beloved by his fellow writers for each his pitch-perfect humorousness and his relatively-sane management model in a job (and career) which tended towards the bizarre and chaotic,” Bradford’s household stated in a ready obituary. “Above his desk at The Tonight Present was an indication that learn: ‘It left right here humorous.’”

Bradford later served as head author for “The Late Present Starring Joan Rivers” between 1986 and 1987. He additionally wrote episodes for “MASH” and “Three’s Firm.”

Earlier than changing into a workers author, Bradford started his profession as a comic book. He appeared at nightclubs and opened the present for such acts as Simon & Garfunkel and the Temptations.

Bradford is survived by spouse Patricia Bradford; daughters Stephanie Brenowitz and Sally Bradford McKenna; sons Matt Bohm and William McLaughlin; and 5 grandchildren.