Veteran TV writer and producer Chris Thompson passed away after long illness at the age of 63.  Thompson was discovered unconscious by a caregiver. An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death. Thompson’s career stretched from the mid-1970s, through series and pilots ranging from “Bosom Buddies,” which marked Tom Hank’s breakout vehicle, to the biting Fox showbiz satire “Action.” But his fortunes had been at a low ebb in the five years since he launched the Disney Channel series “Shake It Up!”

Chris Thompson

• Thompson was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Los Angeles.
• He began his career at the age of 23.
• He worked as a writer on Blansky’s Beauties starring Nancy Walker and Scott Baio, followed by Laverne & Shirley.
• In 2010, Thompson created and executive produced the Disney Channel dance-driven sitcom Shake It Up!