Nat Perrin; Movie and TV Writer and Groucho Marx Protege

Nat Perrin, 93, a Hollywood writer who served as temporary conservator of his friend Groucho Marx. A lawyer who never practiced, Perrin credited Marx with bringing him to Hollywood and giving him his first professional job as a gag writer. Perrin was a key writer on several Marx brothers films, including “Monkey Business” and “Duck Soup.” In 1977, as the late comedian steadily declined, Perrin served as Marx’s temporary conservator, commenting: “I’m very indebted to him . . . he’s not any burden.” In 1991, Perrin appeared in a television special about his mentor, “Here He Is . . . The One, The Only . . . Groucho.” Perrin, who maintained a close circle of other veteran Hollywood friends, enjoyed regular poker sessions with such colleagues as “Titanic” star Gloria Stuart. As television developed, Perrin became a producer, organizing such early 1950s shows as “The Red Skelton Show” and “Death Valley Days.” He also was producer and head writer for “The Addams Family,” which ran from 1964 through 1966. Among Perrin’s other writing credits were screenplays for “Hellzapoppin” in 1941 with Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson, “I’ll Take Sweden” in 1965 with Bob Hope, and “Frankie and Johnnie” in 1966 starring Elvis Presley. On Saturday in Los Angeles.