Early Life and Career

Hank Bradford, a renowned head writer for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers,” breathed his last on January 18, 2024, in Los Angeles, as confirmed by his family. The cause of his demise was congestive heart failure, according to his daughter Stephanie Brenowitz.

Born as Henry Brenowitz on May 7, 1935, in Brooklyn, Bradford was the son of Jewish refugees from Russian-occupied Poland, Irving and Anna (Leibowitz) Brenowitz. After receiving an advertising degree from Long Island University, he embarked on a successful career in comedy.

Bradford, known by his stage name “Hank Bradford,” performed at prominent nightclubs and variety shows during the 1960s. He even had the privilege of opening for legendary acts such as Simon & Garfunkel, the Temptations, and Jack Jones. However, due to prevalent anti-Semitism at the time, Bradford chose to use a stage name, much like other Jewish performers of that era.

Contribution to Late-Night Television

Bradford’s breakthrough came when he became the head writer for “The Tonight Show” hosted by Johnny Carson from 1970 to 1975. His fellow writers held him in high regard for his impeccable sense of humor and his ability to maintain a relatively sane working environment amidst the chaos of the job.

During his tenure, Bradford contributed to iconic Carson sketches like Carnac the Magnificent. He led a team of writers who scoured newspapers and magazines daily, mining them for topical material to be transformed into hilarious jokes for Carson to deliver.

In an Aug. 1, 1971 feature in the New York Times, Bill Majeski, a journalist and Carson writer, described a typical day in Bradford’s writing room. The writers communicated through monosyllabic utterances, and Bradford’s task was to extract audible whimsies from them. Once a joke was approved, it was swiftly dispatched by a secretary to be incorporated into the show.

Bradford’s talent and dedication led him to meet his wife, Patricia Bradford, who served as a talent coordinator on “The Tonight Show.” The couple tied the knot in 1971 in New York and subsequently relocated to Los Angeles with the show in 1972.

After his stint on “The Tonight Show,” Bradford went on to become the head writer for “The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers” from 1986 to 1987. He also wrote episodes for popular TV series such as “MASH” and “Three’s Company.”

Legacy and Philanthropy

Outside of his television work, Bradford co-founded a comedy troupe in 1992 called “Yarmy’s Army.” The group was named after his friend Dick Yarmy, who was undergoing cancer treatment. The troupe toured nationally, organizing shows to raise funds for struggling comedians in need.

Hank Bradford is survived by his wife Patricia Bradford, daughters Stephanie Brenowitz and Sally Bradford McKenna, sons Matt Bohm and William McLaughlin, as well as five grandchildren.