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Tom Leopold
Tom Leopold
Tom Leopold
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Tom Leopold (born 1949)[1] is an American comedy writer, performer and novelist.[2] He has written episodes of Seinfeld and Cheers, along with several books. Leopold has often been associated with Chevy Chase, Harry Shearer and Paul Shaffer due to his work with them on various projects. He also provided vocal performances with Jonathan Katz in animated productions for the Internet such as Hey, We're Back and Explosion Bus.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Leopold was born in Miami Beach, Florida,[1] and grew up in nearby Coral Gables, the son of Paul and Joanne Leopold. He attended Coral Gables Senior High School before graduating from the School of Performing Arts at New York University.[3][4]

Career

[edit]

Leopold began writing material for National Lampoon magazine[5] and went on to work on The National Lampoon Radio Hour when it was created in 1973. He worked with performers such as Chevy Chase, Richard Belzer, and Christopher Guest.[6]

He transitioned into television sketch comedy writing when The Chevy Chase Show began in 1977 (not to be confused with the ill-fated 1993 talk show of the same name). He wrote for other programs such as The Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Show, The Richard Belzer Show, and The Steve Allen Comedy Hour. In 1979, he wrote and performed in a sketch comedy program called The T.V. Show with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Rob Reiner, and Harry Shearer.[7]

He later began writing for television situation comedies and has done this successfully ever since. He has been a producer, story editor, and writer on a number of top American programs, including Caroline in the City, Cheers, Ellen, Hope & Faith, Seinfeld, and Will & Grace. Other programs for which he has written include The Mind of the Married Man and Dream On. He wrote two episodes of Seinfeld ("The Cafe" and "The Suicide") and he co-wrote the episode "The Cheever Letters". He wrote two episodes of Cheers ("The Beer Is Always Greener" and "Norm's Big Audit"). In 2006, he became executive producer of the British sitcom My Family.[7]

Based on his experience writing for television comedy, Leopold has led a master class in sitcom writing called "Comedy Writer's Room" at Columbia University.[8]

Leopold and Harry Shearer are friends and have collaborated on several projects.[9] They were hired together to do a rewrite of the 1986 film Club Paradise. In the end, only two words of what they wrote ended up in the film (the title), and Shearer was "so appalled by the movie" that he removed his name from the credits.[10] Leopold left his name on the movie, but has done no film writing since.[7]

In 1994, Leopold and Shearer also wrote a musical comedy about J. Edgar Hoover called J. Edgar! .[11] The musical was produced for radio in Los Angeles by L.A. Theatre Works, with music by Peter Matz. It starred Kelsey Grammer and John Goodman and featured Dan Castellaneta, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Annette O'Toole.[11] It has also been performed at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 2003.[12] A cast recording was produced and is still available.[13]

Leopold often calls in to Shearer's radio program Le Show,[11] playing such unusual characters as "Yvonne Della Femina" (O. J. Simpson's alleged girlfriend who has changed sex several times)[14][15] or even Elvis Presley.[16] (See the Le Show article for a more complete list of his characters).

Leopold and Shearer are also friends with Paul Shaffer.[17] They share an interest in the vagaries of show business itself and sometimes go on trips to see odd shows. In a New York article, Leopold said: "Paul, Harry and I are show-biz-philes. We fly all over to see these bad, funny shows".[18] Leopold and Shearer produced and co-wrote (with Shaffer) a 1986 Cinemax special titled Viva Shaf Vegas in which Leopold also performed, some of which was based on this shared interest.[19]

Leopold has written two novels; his first was Almost Like Being Here in 1988, which was followed by the sequel Somebody Sing in 1990. The books got mixed reviews.[20][21] The first book was produced as a stage play in Chicago in 1993.[22]

In 2008, he collaborated with Bob Sand to publish a biography of a mythical comedy writing team "Milt Wagonman and Marty Sloyxne", who are profane and largely unsuccessful. A number of promotional videos for the book have been posted, and in them Leopold and Sand appear as the characters. (Leopold plays Milt Wagonman).[23][24][25]

Leopold occasionally performs as a comedic actor in film or television[7] and at live events (most recently in September 2008).[26]

In 2012, Leopold began hosting a weekly radio show, Entertaining Truth, on The Catholic Channel exclusive to Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The show featured Leopold, alongside priest and chef Father Leo Patalinghug, discussing the Catholic Church in an entertaining light.[27]

Personal life

[edit]

Leopold lives in New York City[11] with his wife and two daughters.[26] He owns a summer home in Greenport, New York that he bought from Kofi Annan.[28] Leopold was raised in a Jewish family. As an adult, he converted to Catholicism.[29]

Bibliography

[edit]

References

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[edit]
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Tom Leopold

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Tom Leopold is an American television writer, producer, and novelist known for his work on iconic sitcoms including Seinfeld, Cheers, and Will & Grace. Born on October 14, 1949, in Miami, Florida, Leopold began his career in comedy writing before establishing himself in television during the 1980s and 1990s. He wrote for Seinfeld in its early seasons, served as a co-producer on Cheers, and held producing roles on series such as Ellen, Caroline in the City, Will & Grace, and Madigan Men. His credits also include work on Hope & Faith, My Family, and later projects such as Dweck, alongside writing for Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize specials honoring comedians like Carol Burnett, Bill Murray, and Ellen DeGeneres. Throughout his more than four-decade career, Leopold has collaborated with comedy legends including Steve Allen, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Billy Crystal, and Christopher Guest, while also authoring the novel Milt & Marty: The Longest Lasting & Least Successful Comedy Writing Duo in Show Biz History. He has performed in various capacities, co-hosted the Sirius XM program Entertaining Truth, and delivered lectures on topics ranging from comedy writing to his personal journey as a Catholic convert.

Early life and education

Childhood in Florida

Tom Leopold was born on October 14, 1949, in Miami Beach, Florida. He grew up in nearby Coral Gables as one of four sons in a Jewish family. Raised in a secular household where his parents worshiped show business—particularly musical comedy—and only joined the local synagogue for auditions to Guys and Dolls, he lived on the edge of a Florida golf course that restricted people like him. Leopold described himself as a sickly child who spent extensive time indoors watching television and films, which became his primary education in comedy. He self-taught comedic timing and structure primarily from classic sitcoms such as I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners, noting that “that was it, that was school for me.” From an early age, he showed a strong interest in show business, declaring that he had been “in love with show business since I was 5” and aspired to become an actor. In high school at Coral Gables Senior High School, he performed a magic act called “The Amazing Leo and Curly.” He wanted to leave high school early to pursue entertainment, but his parents refused to allow it, insisting he graduate.

Education at NYU

Tom Leopold graduated from Coral Gables Senior High School before relocating to New York City. He entered New York University in 1967 at the age of 17 to study acting in what is now the Tisch School of the Arts. His main acting teacher was Olympia Dukakis, whose classes emphasized serious drama, leaving Leopold feeling somewhat out of place amid his comedic leanings. During this university period, Leopold began contributing to National Lampoon magazine and related projects while still a student.

Career

Early comedy writing and collaborations

Tom Leopold launched his professional comedy career in the early 1970s as a writer for the National Lampoon Radio Hour, beginning in 1973, where he collaborated with talents such as Chevy Chase, Richard Belzer, and Christopher Guest. Throughout the late 1970s, he contributed writing to a series of television variety programs, including The Chevy Chase Show in 1977, The Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Show, The Richard Belzer Show, and The Steve Allen Comedy Hour. In 1979, Leopold wrote and performed in the sketch comedy special The T.V. Show, teaming up with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Rob Reiner, and Harry Shearer. During this period, Leopold also pursued acting roles in television and film, appearing in episodes of Child's Play (1972), Mannix (1973), Gunsmoke (1974), and as Stan in the 1983 comedy Mr. Mom. In the mid-1980s, Leopold renewed his collaboration with Harry Shearer by co-writing a rewrite of the film Club Paradise (1986), retaining credit despite substantial script alterations that left only the title intact. That same era saw him co-write and perform in the Cinemax special Viva Shaf Vegas (1987) alongside Harry Shearer and Paul Shaffer. Leopold has been a frequent contributor to Harry Shearer's radio program Le Show, where he has portrayed recurring characters including Yvonne Della Femina and impersonated figures such as Elvis Presley.

Sitcom writing credits

Tom Leopold's sitcom writing credits encompass a range of popular American television series, primarily from the 1990s and early 2000s. He gained particular recognition for his contributions to Seinfeld, where he served as story editor for 22 episodes during the show's third and fourth seasons from 1991 to 1993. In addition to his story editing duties, Leopold wrote the season 3 episodes "The Cafe" and "The Suicide," and co-wrote the season 4 episode "The Cheever Letters." After his tenure on Seinfeld, Leopold wrote two episodes for Cheers during the 1992–1993 season: "The Beer Is Always Greener" and "Norm's Big Audit." He subsequently served as story editor and writer on three episodes of Ellen between 1995 and 1996. Leopold also wrote three episodes for Caroline in the City during the 1996–1997 season. His other sitcom writing work includes two episodes of Pig Sty in 1995, one episode of Dream On in 1991, four episodes of Madigan Men in 2000, one episode of The Mind of the Married Man in 2002, two episodes of Hope & Faith from 2004 to 2005, and two episodes of My Family in 2006.

Producing and executive roles

Tom Leopold assumed a variety of producing and executive positions in television throughout the 1990s and 2000s, contributing oversight and creative leadership to numerous sitcoms. He began this phase of his career with a story editor role on Seinfeld for 22 episodes during the third and fourth seasons (1991–1993), helping shape storylines alongside his writing contributions. He advanced to co-producer on Cheers for 25 episodes in the 1992–1993 season, supporting the long-running NBC series in its later years. In 1995, Leopold took on co-executive producer duties on the short-lived UPN series Pig Sty for 13 episodes and on Ellen for 27 episodes through the 1995–1996 season. He followed with an executive producer role on Caroline in the City for 25 episodes from 1996 to 1997. Leopold served as consulting producer on Will & Grace for 21 episodes during its inaugural 1998–1999 season. In 2000, he held co-executive and executive producer credits on the ABC comedy Madigan Men for 11 episodes. He later acted as consulting producer on Hope & Faith for 26 episodes from 2004 to 2005. His executive work extended to the British sitcom My Family, where he was executive producer on 4 episodes from 2005 to 2006 and creative consultant in 2006. Additional producing credits include executive producer on the Untitled Susie Essman Project in 2005, producer on America's Most Terrible Things in 2002, and producer on Dweck for 6 episodes in 2019. Leopold has also undertaken various creative consultant roles across other television projects.

Acting and performing

Tom Leopold has occasionally taken on acting and performing roles throughout his career, primarily in television and comedy-related projects, often alongside his more prominent work as a writer. He began with early guest appearances in the 1970s, including a role as Chester Shepherd in an episode of Gunsmoke (1974) and a part in Mannix (1973). He also appeared in the film Child's Play (1972) and played Stan in the comedy Mr. Mom (1983). One of his more substantial early roles was as Winston Dennis in The Ted Knight Show (1978, 6 episodes)). In later years, Leopold focused on voice acting and animated comedy projects. He voiced the character Leo Huckstep across all 13 episodes of the animated series Explosion Bus (2012), which he co-created with Jonathan Katz. He also contributed voices to the related internet animated production Hey, We're Back. Additionally, he performed multiple characters and voices in the animated comedy series The Dick & Paula Celebrity Special (1999). Leopold has performed live comedy on occasion, including stand-up and events such as an appearance at Comix NY in 2008. He developed and performed the comedic routine "A Comedy Writer Finds God" in collaboration with Bill Persky around 2009–2012, presenting it at various venues as a one-man show reflecting on his personal journey.

Literary works

Tom Leopold has authored three novels and co-authored a satirical biography, often infusing his prose with the sharp comedic sensibility honed through his television writing career. His published books blend humor, satire, and reflections on personal and professional struggles in the entertainment world. His debut novel, Almost Like Being Here, was published by Dutton in 1988. The book follows narrator Sandy Bayard through a chaotic week marked by apartment troubles, a failing play, a personal tragedy, and romantic entanglements across New York and Boston. Reviews praised its entertaining pace and urban comedic tone, though noted occasional overreaching humor. The novel was adapted into a stage play produced in Chicago. Its sequel, Somebody Sing, appeared in 1990 from Dutton and continues Sandy Bayard's story as a modestly famous cable television host facing romantic complications, family obligations, and a marriage of convenience for insurance purposes. The book delivers comedic sequences amid a bittersweet satire on relationships and ambition. In 2008, Leopold and Bob Sand co-authored Milt & Marty: The Longest Lasting and Least Successful Comedy Writing Duo in Showbiz History, published by Virgin Books. This mockumentary-style satirical biography traces the absurd, futile efforts of fictional elderly comedy writers Milt Wagonman and Marty Sloyxne to break into show business across decades, incorporating real comedians and blending fiction with the authors' own experiences. Leopold also co-wrote the musical comedy J. Edgar! with Harry Shearer, featuring music by Peter Matz. The irreverent spoof explores J. Edgar Hoover's life and secrets, with a cast including Kelsey Grammer as Hoover. It was recorded before a live audience by L.A. Theatre Works in 1994 and performed at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 2003.

Personal life

Family and marriage

Tom Leopold married Barbara in October 1987, and as of September 2012, the couple had been married for 25 years. They are the parents of two daughters, Olivia and Augusta. In 2012, Olivia was approximately 20 years old and Augusta was approximately 17. The family encountered significant challenges when Augusta developed a severe eating disorder around age 12, which proved life-threatening and required intervention. Leopold resides in New York City and owns a summer home in Greenport, New York, purchased from former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in early 1996. He was raised in a culturally Jewish family along with his brothers and mother.

Conversion to Catholicism

Tom Leopold, who was raised Jewish, converted to Roman Catholicism as an adult. The conversion was triggered by a severe personal crisis involving his younger daughter Augusta's life-threatening eating disorder around 2009, during which she was hospitalized in Arizona for four months. On Christmas Eve that year, while at a rehabilitation center in the Arizona desert and limited to seeing Augusta for only one day on Christmas, Leopold prayed desperately for a sign, stating, "If You’re up there, You could throw me a sign, ‘cause I really can’t make it alone." He subsequently experienced a series of unusual events and coincidences that he interpreted as divine interventions, including a striking encounter the next morning with a stranger who spoke of Christ and reassured him that "God is watching you." These experiences, along with further coincidences and encounters such as meeting Father Jonathan Morris, led him to embrace Christianity. Leopold entered the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program in the Archdiocese of New York and was baptized at the Easter Vigil in 2011. He has explained that Catholicism "chose me," rather than him actively choosing it, and he continues to identify as culturally and ethnically Jewish with no perceived contradiction in his faith. His wife Barbara is Catholic, and his family was supportive of the conversion. To chronicle his spiritual journey, Leopold collaborated with comedian and director Bill Persky to create the one-man show "A Comedy Writer Finds God," which blends humor with his story of faith emerging from suffering. He performed the piece publicly, including at the Shelter Island Library in September 2012.

Later activities

Following his conversion to Catholicism, Tom Leopold became involved in Catholic media, co-hosting the weekly radio program Entertaining Truth on Sirius XM's Catholic Channel with Father Leo Patalinghug. The show, which airs Thursdays at 1 p.m. ET with repeats throughout the week, blends discussions of faith, family, and humor. He has continued in this role into recent years as a prominent part of his later work. Leopold has also sustained his involvement in comedy education by teaching the master class "Comedy Writer's Room," which he led at Columbia University in 2006 to simulate the collaborative sitcom writing process, guiding students through developing and refining a pilot script. He continues to offer this or similar private master classes in TV comedy writing elsewhere. In television production, Leopold contributed as a writer and producer to multiple Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor specials from 2012 to 2017, honoring figures such as Carol Burnett and David Letterman. In 2019, he served as writer, producer, and director on the six-episode comedy series Dweck. He has also pursued occasional acting and comedic collaborations in projects such as Explosion Bus (2012), where he worked as a writer and actor.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0503167/
  2. https://www.chartwellspeakers.com/speaker/tom-leopold/
  3. https://shelterislandreporter.archive.timesreview.com/2012/09/island-profile-two-comedians-tell-a-tale-of-one-comedians-conversion/
  4. https://redbrickagency.com/tom-leopold/
  5. https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/tom-leopold
  6. https://hailsatire.libsyn.com/tom-leopold-september-4-2013
  7. https://www.discogs.com/artist/4648196-Tom-Leopold
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308959/
  9. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090856/
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200261/
  11. https://www.coopertalk.net/e/tom-leopold-episode-815/
  12. https://www.seinfeldpodcast.com/videos/seinfeld-podcast-interview-with-seinfeld-writer-tom-leopold-the-cafe-115/
  13. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/95652-tom-leopold
  14. https://variety.com/1992/tv/news/hollywood-tv-production-chart-100081/
  15. https://variety.com/1995/tv/reviews/pig-sty-1200439978/
  16. https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/abc-cancels-madigan-1117790663/
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0594556/characters/nm0503167/
  18. https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?role=nm0503167&sort=year,asc
  19. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2179282/
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0207243/
  21. https://www.ncronline.org/news/culture/sitcom-writers-road-catholic-church-no-laughing-matter
  22. https://www.amazon.com/Almost-Like-Being-Here-Leopold/dp/0525246320
  23. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/04/books/in-short-fiction-469188.html
  24. https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780525248699
  25. https://search.worldcat.org/title/Milt-and-Marty-:-the-longest-lasting-and-least-successful-comedy-writing-duo-in-show-biz-history/oclc/1036583316
  26. http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0809/2008001289-d.html
  27. https://latw.org/title/j-edgar
  28. https://variety.com/2003/legit/news/hbo-fest-to-fete-laffers-1117878379/
  29. https://www.clonline.org/en/current-events/articles/2017-01-17-in-the-midst-of-the-rubble-tom-leopold-and-stories-of-life
  30. http://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2013/11/celebrated-comedy-writer-tom-leopold-on.html
  31. https://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2018/08/kofi-annan-80-former-un-secretary-general-made-greenport-home/
  32. https://whyimcatholic.com/index.php/conversion-stories/jewish-converts/57-jewish-convert-tom-leopold
  33. https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2013/10/08/comedy-writer-finds-god/
  34. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/06/05/the-room-4
  35. https://www.writermag.com/blog/writers-on-writing-tom-leopold/
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11311784/
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