Jerry Birn(1923-2009)

Born in Chicago, Illinois on March 23, 1923, Birn stayed close to his home town for all his life. He attended DePaul University on a scholarship. After graduating, he moved to New York to pursue a career in acting, but soon found himself back in Chicago and working as a copy-writer for the advertising agency McCann Erickson. It was there that he met fellow Chicagoan and young copy-writer, William J. Bell, who would later create the two most successful daytime dramas in television history. Birn and Bell worked side by side creating ad slogans and writing jingle copy. When Bell moved on to begin his career in daytime, Birn stayed back and forged a successful thirty-year career in the advertising world. After his stint at McCann Erickson, Birn went to work for Tatham, Laird & Kudner, in Chicago and New York, where he created some of the most unforgettable characters and slogans in the history of commercials. Birn's client list included Mr. Clean, Head & Shoulders, Kix and Trix Cereal, Tidy Bowl, Lucky Strike Cigarettes and Biz and Bold detergents. Birn was the very first person to obtain permission from the elusive Walt Disney to allow a product to use a Disney character in an ad, when he introduced the animated "Peter Pan" and "Captain Hook" for Peter Pan Peanut Butter. Birn retired as Chairman of the Board of Tatham, Laird & Kudner in 1984. In 1987, Birn was contacted by his longtime friend William J. Bell, who by now was living in Los Angeles and helming his creations The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. Birn quickly packed his bags and again found himself working side by side with Bell, but this time writing soap operas. For the next 22 years, until shortly before his death, Birn served as a writer and a story consultant for the two critically acclaimed dramas. During this time Birn garnered 20 Daytime Emmy nominations and three Emmys as well as three Writer's Guild Award nominations and one Writer's Guild Award. Birn met his second wife Patty Weaver on set where his daughter Laura Bryan Birn also worked for nearly 20 years as an actress. Jerry Birn died on December 5, 2009 of natural causes.