Barbara Avedon

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Barbara Avedon
Publicity Photo of 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
Spouses
​
(died)​
Mel Avedon
​
(divorced)​
ChildrenJoshua Avedon

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

Biography[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ Hayward, Anthony (9 September 1994). "Barbara Avedon". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  2. ^ Horace Newcomb, ed. (2014). Encyclopedia of Television (2 ed.). Routledge. p. 600. ISBN 978-1135194796.
  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. Vol. 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 978-0307570642.
  9. ^ Elana Levine (2007). Wallowing in Sex: The New Sexual Culture of 1970s American Television. Duke University Press. p. 282. ISBN 978-0822339199.
  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 978-1118046876.
  11. ^ Warren G. Bennis (2003). On Becoming a Leader. Da Capo Press. p. 85. ISBN 0738208175.
  12. ^ a b 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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