Frank Peppiatt

Frank Peppiatt (March 19, 1927 – November 7, 2012) was a Canadian (naturalized American) television producer and screenwriter, considered a pioneer of the variety show genre. His credits included The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Most notably, co-created the variety show, Hee Haw, in 1969 with John Aylesworth.[1][2]

Peppiatt was born to Frank and Sarah Peppiatt in Toronto, Ontario, on March 19, 1927.[1] He attended the University of Toronto, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1949.[1] He took a job with his Toronto classmate, Norman Jewison, after college working on college stage productions.[1] Peppiatt then worked as an advertising copywriter, which led to an entry-level position with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.[1] His work in Canadian broadcaster led to a long professional partnership with John Aylesworth, beginning with Canadian television shows.[1] Peppiatt made the jump from Canadian to American television by the mid-1950s.[1]

In addition to Hee Haw, Peppiatt and Aylesworth teamed up to write or produce Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall, The Judy Garland Show, Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music, The ABC Comedy Hour, The Julie Andrews Hour, and Hullabaloo.[2] They were known as one of the most prolific writing and producing teams in television variety show history.

Peppiatt died from bladder cancer in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on November 7, 2012, at the age of 85.[2] He was survived by his wife, Caroline Peppiatt; two daughters from a previous marriage, Francesca Robyn and Marney Peppiatt; and four grandchildren.[1][2] His autobiography, When Variety Was King: Memoir of a TV Pioneer, was published posthumously by ECW Press in April 2013.[1][2]