Obituaries : Cy Howard, Scriptwriter for ‘My Friend Irma’

Cy Howard, 77, writer who scripted the “My Friend Irma” series for radio, movies and television. Born in Milwaukee, Howard was educated at the University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota and began his career writing for the radio shows of comedians Jack Benny, Danny Thomas and Milton Berle. He created the dizzy legal secretary Irma (actress Marie Wilson) for radio, then co-wrote the 1949 movie version, which introduced Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Howard also wrote the film sequels, “My Friend Irma Goes West,” and “That’s My Boy.” The series moved to television and aired from 1952 to 1954. Howard also directed films and was an executive producer with Desilu TV studios. On Thursday in Los Angeles after a stroke.