Barbara Avedon

Barbara Avedon (June 14, 1925 – August 31, 1994)[1] was a television writer, political activist,[2] and feminist.[3] She founded the anti-war organization Another Mother for Peace.

Barbara Avedon
Born
Barbara Hammer

(1925-06-14)June 14, 1925
New York, New York, USA
DiedAugust 31, 1994(1994-08-31) (aged 69)
Palm Springs, California, USA
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUnited States
OccupationTelevision writer
Known forCreator of Cagney & Lacey with Barbara Corday
Founder of Another Mother for Peace
Spouse(s)Phil Sharp (deceased)
Mel Avedon (divorced)
ChildrenJoshua Avedon

Biography

She was one of the writers for the television series Bewitched, and helped a group of Jefferson High School students write the episode "Sisters at Heart".[4] She also wrote for Executive Suite[5] and Fish, a 1977-78 spin-off from Barney Miller.[6] With Barbara Corday, Avedon created Cagney & Lacey, the world's first dramatic television series to place women in both of its starring roles.[7] They came up with the idea for this television series after having read Molly Haskell's book From Reverence to Rape which stated that there had never been a female buddy film.[8] Avedon and Corday initially intended Cagney & Lacey to be a film.[9] While they were writing the series together, Avedon was more experienced and proficient in screenwriting than Corday, and Avedon mentored Corday in this area throughout the series.[10] They were best friends for nearly a decade.[11]

Personal life

Avedon married twice. Her first husband was Phil Sharp; they remained married until his death.[12] Her second husband was Mel Avedon; they had one child before the marriage was dissolved.[12] Her son Joshua is a co-founder of Jumpstart, a not-for-profit that focuses on transforming the broader Jewish community through spirituality, learning, social activism, and culture, and the Jewish congregation IKAR.[13]

References
  1. Hayward, Anthony. "Barbara Avedon". Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  2. Horace Newcomb, ed. (2014). Encyclopedia of Television (2 ed.). Routledge. p. 600. ISBN 1135194793.
  3. Geraldine Harris (2006). Beyond Representation: Television Drama and the Politics and Aesthetics of Identity. Manchester University Press. p. 41. ISBN 1847791727.
  4. William D. Crump (2001). The Christmas Encyclopedia (3 ed.). McFarland & Company. p. 38. ISBN 1476605734.
  5. William Puette (1992). Through Jaundiced Eyes: How the Media View Organized Labor. Cornell University Press. p. 176. ISBN 0875461859.
  6. Vincent Terrace (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials. 2. VNR AG. p. 144. ISBN 0918432618.
  7. Julie D'Acci (1992). Lynn Spigel; Denise Mann (eds.). "Defining Women: The Case of Cagney and Lacey". Private Screenings: Television and the Female Consumer. University of Minnesota Press: 170. ISBN 0816620539.
  8. Syd Field (2009). Selling a Screenplay: The Screenwriter's Guide to Hollywood. Random House. p. 148. ISBN 0307570649.
  9. Elana Levine (2007). Wallowing in Sex: The New Sexual Culture of 1970s American Television. Duke University Press. p. 282. ISBN 0822339196.
  10. Ellen A. Ensher; Susan E. Murphy (2011). Power Mentoring: How Successful Mentors and Proteges Get the Most Out of Their Relationships. John Wiley & Sons. p. 59. ISBN 1118046870.
  11. Warren G. Bennis (2003). On Becoming a Leader. Da Capo Press. p. 85. ISBN 0738208175.
  12. The Independent: "Obituary: Barbara Avedon" by Anthony Hayward 9 September 1994
  13. Paideia - The European Institute for Jewish Studies: "Project-Incubator Staff" retrieved October 24, 2017
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