Jim Geoghan, the co-creator of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, has died at 79. He died Sunday, September 7, in Los Angeles. Geoghan helped shape several popular TV comedies during his long career. His work also extended to television, theater, and stand-up comedy.
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody co-creator Jim Geoghan dies at 79
Geoghan’s daughter, Genevieve Geoghan, confirmed his death to Deadline. The cause of death was not immediately available. He started his career in the early 1970s with the comedy trio Divided We Stand. The group performed at New York clubs including the Improvisation Cafe, The Bitter End, Catch A Rising Star and The Bottom Line.
The trio also performed at colleges and nightclubs with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Beach Boys, The Commodores, Jimmy Buffett, The Righteous Brothers, Bill Withers, War, Sha Na Na and The Temptations. Geoghan eventually moved into television writing. His credits included Three’s Company, Sanford, Too Close for Comfort, The Facts of Life, and The Van Dyke Show. He also wrote 18 episodes of Silver Spoons between 1983 and 1987 and produced It’s Garry Shandling’s Show from 1986 to 1990.
His other writing credits included Kate & Allie, Mama’s Family, Amen, and Family Matters. He also produced Silver Spoons and Family Matters. In 2005, Geoghan and Danny Kallis co-created and executive produced The Suite Life of Zack & Cody for Disney Channel. The show ran for 87 episodes from 2005 to 2008 and earned two Emmy nominations, with Cole and Dylan Sprouse, Ashley Tisdale and Brenda Song among its stars.
The Suite Life on Deck followed from 2008 to 2011 and took the characters into high school. Geoghan later served as executive producer of The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir. He is also the author of Only Kidding, a play about stand-up comedy, which premiered Off-Broadway in 1988. The play ran for 500 performances, earned two Drama Desk Award nominations, and later reached regional theaters across the country. Fans will remember him especially for helping create The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.
