Jerry Colker is best known for writing the book and lyrics for the award winning Off-Broadway Musical about stand up comics “3 Guys Naked From the Waist Down." He won the Drama Desk Award for Best Book of a Musical and co-starred in the New York production. He also wrote the book and lyrics for “Mail” which set box office records at the Pasadena Playhouse before opening on Broadway.
Born in Los Angeles, he attended Harvard University where he competed in gymnastics and performed in the Hasty Pudding Show, was spotted by a New York agent and was soon performing on Broadway featured in Bob Fosse’s “Pippin,” Michael Bennett’s “A Chorus Line” and in the role of “Riff” in the revival of Jerome Robbins’ “West Side Story.” Moving back to Los Angeles, Jerry was hired by Disney Animation to write the first drafts of “Aladdin” and the first treatment of “Rapunzel” which later became “Tangled.” Moving into live action, he developed features for Touchstone Pictures, Tri-Star and Trans World Entertainment for stars as diverse as Bette Midler, Steven Seagal, and Cheech and Chong among others. For television he executive produced and wrote a full season of the cult classic kids’ show for adults, “JohnnyTime!” for USA Network starring John Kassir. One of the original writers of Nickelodeon’s “All That,” he also wrote episodes for “Kenan & Kel,” “The Jersey,” “100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd,” “Bing” and The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. For Network T.V. he wrote for “Growing Pains,” “In the House” and HBO’s “Arliss.” For PBS, “The Steven Banks Show” and the docudrama adaptation of the acclaimed Alzheimers-themed best-seller, “The Forgetting”. While working as a freelance writer, Jerry created a fitness and wellness business serving clients from ages 7-87. Free to write what is most important to him, his focus is once again plays and musicals. And his grand-daughter Zooey. |