Thomas L Miller

August 31, 1940 - April 5, 2020

LONGTIME TELEVISION PRODUCER THOMAS L. MILLER DIES AT AGE 79 Co-Founder of Miller/Boyett Productions, Miller/Boyett/Warren and Miller-Milkis Produced Well-Known Hit Series Such as "Bosom Buddies," "Happy Days," "Mork & Mindy," "Laverne & Shirley" and "TGIF" Comedies "Family Matters," "Full House," "Perfect Strangers" and "Step by Step" Thomas L. Miller, a co-founder of Miller/Boyett Productions, Miller/Boyett/Warren Productions, Miller-Milkis Productions and one of the most successful producers in television history known for hits such as the "TGIF" comedies "Family Matters," "Full House," "Perfect Strangers" and "Step by Step," among many others during a career that spanned seven decades, died Sunday, April 5, 2020, in Salisbury, Connecticut, due to complications from heart disease. He was 79. A private burial will take place in Milwaukee. Born August 31, 1940, in Milwaukee, he was the son of Edward and Shirley Miller; brother of Robert (Nancy) Miller and Kitty (Paul) Glass; uncle of Gayle, Jeff, and Greg Miller, as well as Lori, Danny and Tracy Glass; and great uncle of Rachel, Abby, Sydney, Finn and Charlie Miller, Dash and Tatum Berk, and Lily Glass. Miller attended Nicolet High School in Glendale, Wisconsin, and was a member of the school's first graduating class in 1958. In 1962, he earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Drama and Speech from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he was a member of the Phi Lambda Phi fraternity and directed the university's annual "Humorology" musical/variety show. Miller had a lifelong love affair with film and television, and he moved to Los Angeles in 1962 to start his career. His entrée into entertainment came when he was offered the opportunity to serve as dialogue coach for his idol, the legendary film director Billy Wilder. During his four-year tenure with Wilder, Miller was extremely fortunate to have the Oscar®-winning filmmaker teach him the fundamentals of moviemaking and more while working on such classic films as “Irma la Douce” and “The Fortune Cookie.” Wilder remained the single most important creative influence in Miller’s career, and the two remained friends until Wilder’s passing in 2002. Following his stint with Wilder, Miller served as assistant in charge of television program development under William Self at 20th Century Fox, where he co-created the comedy series “Nanny and the Professor.” Shortly thereafter, he moved to Paramount Studios to become Vice President, Development, where he oversaw the development of television comedy and drama series programming, as well as original movies for TV. During his tenure, he developed such classic programs as “The Odd Couple” and “Love, American Style,” plus nearly 20 telefilms. Miller then left the executive ranks to embark on a career as a producer, and the television series that he and his partners developed and produced over the next 50 years would go on to become some of the most well-remembered and successful in history. Miller initially founded his own company with partner Edward K. Milkis. Miller-Milkis Productions subsequently developed, along with Garry Marshall, the hugely successful comedy series “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley” and “Mork and Mindy,” among several others. The company also produced the successful one-hour legal drama “Petrocelli.” In addition to these television series, Miller-Milkis produced the extremely popular feature films “Silver Streak” and “Foul Play” with the legendary writer/director Colin Higgins of “Harold and Maude” fame. Miller’s next endeavor was teaming up with Robert L. Boyett to form Miller/Boyett Productions. The pair went on to co-create the critically acclaimed comedy “Bosom Buddies” and also produced “Angie,” before starting a deal with Lorimar Television (later Warner Bros. Television), which resulted in highly successful series such as “The Hogan Family,” “Full House,” and the long-running and award-winning “Perfect Strangers,” among others. They also produced the successful Universal feature “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” In conjunction with producer William Bickley and partner Michael Warren, the foursome accumulated an impressive list of production credits. For several seasons, Miller/Boyett and Bickley/Warren provided a number of series for the ABC Television Network’s “TGIF” Friday comedy lineup, with hits including the aforementioned “Full House” (with Jeff Franklin) and “Perfect Strangers,” as well as “Family Matters,” “Step by Step” and more. In 1996, after Miller/Boyett and Bickley/Warren decided to reorganize companies, Boyett and Miller joined forces with Michael Warren to form Miller/Boyett/Warren Productions, producing the final seasons of “Family Matters” and “Step By Step” plus new comedy series “Meego” for CBS. The final series produced by the trio was the ABC comedy “Two of a Kind,” starring “Full House” breakout stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Miller re-teamed with Boyett nearly two decades later, with Miller/Boyett serving as a production company on “Fuller House,” a new series sequel to “Full House” from Warner Horizon Scripted Television that debuted on Netflix in 2016. The fifth and final season of “Fuller House” will conclude in 2020. Miller moved to New York City in 2000 and started a new career as a legitimate theatre producer, continuing to collaborate with longtime partner Boyett. He won a Tony Award in 2011 in the category of Best Play for “War Horse” and was nominated in the same category in 2019 for the revival of “Tootsie.” His additional Broadway credits include “Hillary and Clinton” and “13,” as well as the upcoming “Mrs. Doubtfire” and revival of “Company.” In 2007, he relocated to Connecticut where he lived until his passing with his partner of 40 years, Bob Boyett, and four beloved boxer dogs.