Bob Hope gagsmith Hartmann was 92

Veteran comedy writer Edmund L. Hartmann has died at the age of 92.

During his 60-year career he wrote for Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, the Three Stooges, Lucille Ball and Abbot and Costello.

He also worked on a raft of American TV comedies, including the long-running sitcom in history, My Three Sons

Hartmann's movie credits includes Hope's The Lemon Drop Kid and Martin and Lewis's The Caddy.

He once said: "I think the unexpected is the key to comedy. You can either do it or you can't. It can't be taught."

He died on Friday in his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Published: 2 Dec 2003