Who was Emily Marshall? ‘Tonight Show’ Secretary, Sitcom Writer Dies at 79

American sitcom writer and Tonight Show Secretary, Emily Marshall has been reported dead. She died of lung cancer at her home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, on March 17, 2023. She was 79 years old.

She was credited for creating the 1988-89 CBS Sitcom show Coming of Age, which features several stars including Phyllis Newman, Alan Young, Paul Dooley, Glynis Johns, Kevin Pollak, and Ruta Lee.

Marshall also created 13 episodes of Newhart on CBS, as well as being the writer for Rhoda on the same network. Some of her works also include WKRP in Cincinnati, Angie on ABC, an episode of The Larry Sanders Show on HBO, and more.

She was also known as the third wife of the Tonight Show bandleader, Doc Severinsen. They were married for almost four decades; from 1980 to 2013.

“She was an artist in every sense – a writer, a painter, sculptress – but her greatest passion may have been the love of animals. She belonged to an organization that rescued street dogs, and when she passed, she had sic adopted street dogs of her own. In addition to loving animals, Emily loved people, opera, fine food, and ginger martinis,” Emmy-nominated writer and producer, Barry Kemp said.