Frequently, Mr. Simon’s plays centered on white, middle-class Americans — mostly New Yorkers and mainly Jews — but the characters were universally relatable. (At 26, Mr. Simon joined a writing staff that included Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Larry Gelbart.) During World War II, Mr. Simon served in the Army Air Forces and did basic training in Biloxi, Miss. In October 1976, Mr. Simon wed Mason — three months after the death of his first wife, Joan Baim. “In the writers’ room you fought for your life and your laughs,” Mr. Simon said.

Source: Washington Post August 26, 2018 15:46 UTC