Marjorie Gross

Marjorie Gross (April 18, 1956 – June 7, 1996) was a Canadian television writer and producer. She wrote for such shows as Newhart, The Larry Sanders Show, Square Pegs, Get a Life, and Seinfeld.[1]

Marjorie Gross
Born(1956-04-18)April 18, 1956
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedJune 7, 1996(1996-06-07) (aged 40)
Los Angeles, California, United States
OccupationTelevision writer and producer

Biography

Marjorie Gross was born in Toronto and got her start doing stand-up comedy in local clubs. She later moved to New York City, where she became one of a group of female stand-up comedians.[2]

In 1981 she started to write for television where she worked on the sitcom Square Pegs. She also appeared on the Late Night with David Letterman[3] before joining her two friends Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David in 1994 to write for their show Seinfeld.[2]

She wrote four episodes of Seinfeld: "The Fusilli Jerry", "The Understudy", "The Shower Head" and "The Secretary". Bette Midler was an old friend of Gross'. According to co-writer Carol Leifer, Midler's appearance on the show in The Understudy was secured because of this connection after having other big name actresses pass on it.[4]

In 1996 she was an Emmy Award nominee for her work on Seinfeld.[5]

She was the first cousin of Canadian comedian and writer Spencer Rice. He described her as his hero.[6]

Death

During her battle with ovarian cancer, a disease that also killed her mother,[2] she wrote an article for The New Yorker, "Cancer Becomes Me", which appeared in the print edition of their April 15, 1996 issue.[7] She tried to find humor in the situation by joking that she wanted to hold on until November 1996, so that she would not have to risk being re-incarnated as Madonna's child (as Madonna was pregnant). Gross died on June 7, 1996 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in Los Angeles at age 40.[1]

Seinfeld's eighth-season premiere, "The Foundation", was dedicated in her memory.

References
  1. Dinita Smith (June 16, 1996). "Marjorie Gross, 40, Producer And Writer for TV's 'Seinfeld'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018.
  2. "MARJORIE GROSS, 'SEINFELD' PRODUCER, FORMER COMEDIAN". Sun Sentinel. June 16, 1996. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  3. ""Late Night with David Letterman" Episode dated 28 June 1983 (TV Episode 1983) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  4. "One Former 'Seinfeld' Writer Reflects On The Show's Impact, 20 Years After Its Finale". WBUR. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  5. "Marjorie Gross - Emmy Awards, Nominations and Wins". Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  6. "Tall Poppy Interview: Spencer Rice". October 20, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2021. My cousin [Marjorie Gross] was my hero
  7. "CANCER BECOMES ME".(subscription required)
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