Quick Facts
| Intro | Television writer from the United States | ||||
| A.K.A. | Thomas Avery Whedon | ||||
| Was | Screenwriter Television producer | ||||
| From | United States of America | ||||
| Field | Film, TV, Stage & Radio | ||||
| Gender | male | ||||
| Birth | 3 August 1932, New York City | ||||
| Death | 23 March 2016 (aged 83 years) | ||||
| Family |
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Biography
Thomas Avery "Tom" Whedon (August 3, 1932 – March 23, 2016) was an American television screenwriter.
Life and career
Whedon was born in New York City, New York. He was the son of Louise Carroll (Angell) and 1950s TV screenwriter John Whedon. He and his first wife, political activist Ann Lee (née Jeffries) Stearns, are the parents of film and TV screenwriter Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, and Marvel's The Avengers). Tom and his second wife, Pam Webber, are the parents of screenwriter and musician Jed Whedon (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) and scriptwriter Zack Whedon (Fringe, Deadwood).
He was an original writer for the 1950-60s children's television show Captain Kangaroo.
As early as 1964, he collaborated with Jon Stone on a concept for a puppet-centered children's television series using the fairy-tale Cinderella as a basis. During this process, they became acquainted with the creative, but then relatively unknown, Jim Henson and his Muppets. The trio went on to make the Hey, Cinderella! TV special for ABC in 1970.
In the 1970s, Tom Whedon (along with Stone) worked for the Children's Television Workshop, becoming head writer for the award winning show The Electric Company. Additional writing credits include the more adult fare of The Dick Cavett Show, Benson, Alice, and The Golden Girls.
Whedon died on March 23, 2016, surrounded by family, according to an Instagram post by his son Jed Whedon.
