Duane Earl Poole, a prolific writer for animate series such as The Smurfs, The Great Grape Ape, Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics, The All-New Super Friends Hour and Sid & Marty Krofft shows, died of cancer on April 1. His death was announced by his husband of 20 years, Frank V. Bonventre.
Poole was born in Prescott, Arizona and raised in Kennwick, Wash. After graduating from the University of Washington, he began working for King World Productions in Seattle. He moved Los Angeles in 1975 to work for Hanna-Barbera. During the ‘70s, Poole wrote for numerous Hanna-Barbera shows, beginning with The Great Grape Ape Show, Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics, C B Bears, A Flintstone Christmas, The All-New Super Friends Hour and The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour and Godzilla. He also penned the screenplay for the cult classic “robot-dog” movie C.H.O.M.P.S and wrote for Sid & Marty Krofft’s Electra Woman and Dyna Girl.
The early ’80s were another hugely productive decade for the talented writer: Poole wrote for The Smurfs, The Flintstone Comedy Show, The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, The Flintstone Comedy Show, Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Biskitts.
He found himself writing for more popular live-action shows such as Hart to Hart, The Fall Guy, Love Boat, Glitter and Hotel during the rest of his career Among the many highlights of his live-action career was a 1997 adaptation of Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory, starring Patty Duke and Piper Laurie, as well as Katharine Hepburn’s This Can’t Be Love, One Christmas, Surviving Gilligan’s Island, Return to The Batcave and numerous Christmas movies for The Hallmark Channel.
In addition to Bonventre, his husband of 22 years, Poole is survived by father-in-law Anthony Bonventre, in-laws Virginia Bonventre Cappelli, Patricia Bonventre, David Cappelli Sr., and many nieces and nephews.
Sources: Variety, Deadline
