Charles Lee; Writer for Bob Hope, Johnny Carson

Charles Lee, 78, one of Bob Hope’s gag writers for 32 years who specialized in the comedian’s monologues. Lee, who also wrote many of the parodies of popular songs that became part of the Hope persona, traveled regularly with the comedian on his dozens of trips overseas to entertain American troops, where he would create fresh material out of circumstance and location. Lee began as a writer for Stars and Stripes during World War II and wrote for the Kate Smith and Kay Kyser radio shows before joining Hope. He also created episodes of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and wrote for “The Tonight Show” when its host was Johnny Carson. In Burbank on Sunday of unreported causes.