Sherry Coben, Writer and Creator of ‘Kate & Allie,’ Dies at 71

Sherry Coben, a writer-producer best known as the creator of Kate & Allie, has died. She was 71.

Coben died on Oct. 16 in her home in New Milford, New Jersey after a battle with cancer, her family told The Hollywood Reporter.

Kate & Allie aired for six seasons on CBS from 1984 to 1989 and was shot in the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, which now houses The Late Show. The show, created by Coben, starred Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin as two divorced mothers who live together and raise their children in the same home.

Before Kate & Allie, Coben wrote for the ABC soap opera Ryan’s Hope. She began her career in the art department at KYW-TV in Philadelphia, doing graphics, sets, illustration and animation for local programming and The Mike Douglas Show. She then worked as a freelance artist for television shows and magazines in New York City, including NBC children’s program Hot Hero Sandwich.

Coben also served as a writer-producer on the CBS television series Bailey Kipper’s P.O.V. and creator-writer of the web series Little Women, Big Cars.

Outside of work, Coben often mentored young writers, performers and artists. She is survived by her husband, film editor Patrick McMahon, and her daughters, Kaley McMahon and Jama McMahon.