Lester Colodny

Lester Colodny is an Emmy-Award-winning writer, producer and director from the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was a co-creator of “The Munsters” and worked on television classics such as “Get Smart,” “My Favorite Martian” and “Beetle Bailey.” In the early 70s, he co-wrote a Broadway play, “Fun City” with Joan Rivers. Later, he went into work in advertising for famed casino chain owner Steve Wynn, winning several CLIOs for his work for the company. To finish out his career, he worked in the eighties for a well-known billionaire New York real estate tycoon.

Lester spent his early career working with some of the biggest names in show business, including Frank Sinatra, Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, Peter Sellers, Florence Henderson, Cary Grant and many more. He was writer, producer and director of “The Baja Marimba Band” for which he won his Emmy.

Colodny was a also writer on “The Today Show” with original host Dave Garroway, when the show was live and mistakes on the set were broadcast nationally. It was Lester who was ordered to get three barrels of monkeys to be opened live on television at the bequest of Garroway. The results were an instant classic and make up the first chapter of his autobiography, “A Funny Thing Happened,” released in July 2010.

Marty Brill, of “All in the Family” and “Three’s Company” wrote of the book: “Since the very inception of show business both laughter and tragedy, side by side, have been its symbol. And under the surface of every sidesplitting tale Lester tells is that ever present poignant layer of sadness. It's a hell of a read!”

Now eighty-five years old, Lester Colodny is currently directing plays in the Westport, CT area, writing books and traveling the country. He has been happily married for twenty-five years, and is a grandfather to twelve children, including “The Young and the Restless” star Elizabeth Hendrickson.