Overview
- Jeffrey Lane died Wednesday, May 20, in New York after a lengthy illness; he was 71.
- He began as a production assistant on Ryan’s Hope in 1977 and rose to write and produce for shows including Lou Grant, Cagney & Lacey, and Mad About You, where he served as executive producer and showrunner.
- On Broadway Lane wrote the book for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which earned him a Tony nomination, and he reunited with composer David Yazbek on Women on the Verge while receiving multiple Emmy wins and other major awards.
- Lane and Yazbek completed a new period musical reportedly titled Whiz‑Bang! about a teenage inventor, but reports say it is unclear when or if the work will receive a public presentation.
- His family said memorial services will be scheduled in New York and Los Angeles and asked that donations be made to World Central Kitchen and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in lieu of flowers.