L.A. Times Obituary, no Author Credited, 9/4/94
BARBARA AVEDON; 'CAGNEY AND LACEY' CO-CREATOR,
PEACE ACTIVIST
Barbara Hammer Avedon, who co-created the popular
television police partnership of two women, Chris Cagney
and Mary Beth Lacey--cracking the stereotype that a series
had to have male heroes to be successful--has died at the age
of 64.
A family spokesman said she died of cancer
Wednesday (8/31/94) in Palm Springs.
Ms. Avedon also was a founder of Another Mother
for Peace, organized in Beverly Hills during the stormy days
of the Vietnam War protest movement. The longtime screenwriter
and political activist was among the first to find a voice for her
feminist views on TV.
The motto of Another Mother for Peace, "War Is
Not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things," became
a byword for war protesters.
With Barney Rosenzweig and Barbara Corday, Ms.
Avedon crated single, ambitious Chris Cagney and played her
off Mary Beth Lacey, a dedicated police officer, wife and mother.
"Cagney & Lacey" was set in the grand tradition of "Butch
Cassidy & the Sundance Kid" and other male-dominated
action epics, and until "Thelma & Louise" came along it
was considered a singularly successful sample of women as
both caring and cantankerous friends.
The series ran from 1982 until 1988, with Tyne Daly
and Sharon Gless in the lead roles.
Ms. Avedon also helped write two Cagney and Lacey
movies of the week: "Cagney and Lacey Together Again" and
"The Return." Another of her television movies was "This Girl's
For Hire" in 1983.
She began as an episodic writer for "The Donna
Reed Show," "Father' Knows Best" and "Bewitched."
Survivors include a son, Joshua Avedon, and brother,
Bruce Hammer.
***This article was sent to me by Scott. Thanks, Scott!
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