Allan Katz, born in Chicago, is a writer, producer, actor, and director. He began his writing career as an advertising copywriter. In 1970 he created the original award-winning campaign for the popcorn snack Screaming Yellow Zonkers which was the first major product to be packaged in a predominantly black box. Katz was hired to be one of the youngest writers on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and moved to Los Angeles. While working on Laugh-In, he also wrote episodes of SANDFORD AND SON, ALL IN THE FAMILY, and THE MARY TYLOR MOORE SHOW. He went on to both write and produce other series including M*A*S*H (TV series), THE CHER SHOW, RHODA, and ROSANNE. Katz wrote the libretto for the musical ZAPATA (music by Harry Nilsson) the multiple award winning Off-Broadway musical, SONG OF SINGAPORE, and the comedy, PARTNERS STARRING ALAN ROSENBERG] Katz is also an essayist who has been published in the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times and has taught writing at UCLA Extension Writers' Program. References
