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Gary David Goldberg, creator of Family Ties and Brooklyn Bridge and co-creator of Spin City, died early this morning at his house in Montecito, CA after a long battle with brain cancer. He passed away two days before his 69th birthday.

Goldberg, who was born in Brooklyn, NY, used his personal life as inspiration for hit Family Ties, in which he based the parents on himself and his wife, and for Brooklyn Bridge, in which he payed homage to his grandmother Jenny. Earlier in his TV career, which spans three decades, Goldberg worked on The Bob Newhart Show, M*A*S*H* and Lou Grant. He has won two Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, two WGA Awards, six Humanitas Prizes and a Peabody.

Goldberg also was known for his commitment to families. In 1985, when Family Ties was at its peak and Goldberg could ask for anything to renew his contract with producer Paramount, he asked for a childcare center on the lot for working parents, something that was a rarity back then. Goldberg also supported his wife, Dr. Diana Meehan, who co-founded the Archer School For Girls in Brentwood. Goldberg is survived by his wife and two grown-up daughters, including comedy writer-producer Shana Goldberg-Meehan.

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