Bruce Bilson

• Name — Bruce Bilson • Born — 19 May 1928 • Birthplace — New York City, U.S. • Died — 16 January 2026 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Education — UCLA • Resting Place — Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery • Occupation — Director, producer, screenwriter • Years Active — 1955–2006 • Children — 2, including Danny Bilson • Relatives — Rachel Bilson (granddaughter)

Bilson was born in Brooklyn on May 19, 1928, to Jewish parents. His mother, Hattie Bilson (née Dratwa; 1907–2004), was an American screenwriter, and his father, George Bilson (1902–1981), was a British producer/writer/director of Ashkenazi Jewish descent who was born in Leeds, England. His brother, Malcolm is a fortepianist and professor of piano at Cornell University. He graduated from UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in 1950.

Bilson married Mona Weichman on August 31, 1955; they divorced in 1976. They had two children, Danny Bilson (born 1956), a film and video game writer/producer and father of actress Rachel Bilson, and Julie Ahlberg, a film producer. In 1981, he married Renne Jarrett. Bilson died at his home in Los Angeles, California on January 16, 2026, at the age of 97.

• The Andy Griffith Show (assistant director 1960–1963) • Please Don't Eat the Daisies (TV series, 1965) • The Patty Duke Show (TV series, 1965, 1 episode) • Gidget (TV series) (1965) • Hogan's Heroes (TV series, 1965) • Camp Runamuck (TV series, 1966, 1 episode) • Bewitched (TV series, 1968, 1 episode) • The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (TV series, 1968) • Blondie (TV series, 1968) • The Doris Day Show (TV series, 1968, 1 episode) • Get Smart (TV series, 1965–1968, 22 episodes) • Nanny and the Professor (TV series, 1970) • Bonanza (TV series, 1970, 1 episode) • Arnie (TV series, 1970) • Barefoot in the Park (TV series, 1970) • The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV series, 1971–1977) • The Odd Couple (TV series, 1970–1971, 5 episodes) • Green Acres (TV series, 1971, 1 episode) • Love, American Style (TV series, 1969–1971, 8 episodes) • Alias Smith and Jones (TV series, 1972, 1 episode) • The Paul Lynde Show (TV series, 1972, 1 episode) • Temperatures Rising (TV series, 1972, 1 episode) • M*A*S*H (TV series, 1972, 1 episode) • The Brady Bunch (TV series, 1973, 1 episode) • The Six Million Dollar Man (TV series, 1974) • Dusty's Trail (TV series, 1974, 1 episode) • Sierra (TV series, 1974) • The Rookies (TV series, 1974–1975, 3 episodes) • Dead Man on the Run (TV movie, 1975) • When Things Were Rotten (TV series, 1975) • Emergency! (TV series, 1975, 1 episode) • Barbary Coast (TV series, 1975, 1 episode) • Hawaii Five-O (TV series, 1974–1976, 5 episodes) • S.W.A.T. (TV series, 1975–1976, 3 episodes) • Wonder Woman (TV series, 1976) • Tabitha (TV series, 1976, 1 episode) • The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe (TV movie, 1976) • Alice (TV series, 1976) • Barney Miller (TV series, 1976–1981, 10 episodes) • Hunter (TV series, 1977) • The Feather and Father Gang (TV series, 1977, 1 episode) • The Love Boat (TV series, 1977) • Quark (TV series, 1978, 1 episode) • B.J. and the Bear (TV movie, 1978) • Pleasure Cove (TV movie, 1979) • Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (TV movie, 1979) • Delta House (TV series, 1979) • Turnabout (TV series, 1979, 1 episode) • The Bad News Bears (TV series, 1979) • The Ghosts of Buxley Hall (TV movie: Disney's Wonderful World, 1980) • Harper Valley PTA (1981, 3 episodes) • Half Nelson (1985, pilot episode) • The Bradys (1990, 3 episodes) • The Flash (TV series, 1991)

Bruce Bilson is recorded as having studied at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and University of California, Los Angeles.