'Suite Life of Zack and Cody' Creator Was 79

Key Points:

• Jim Geoghan, creator and executive producer of the Disney Channel hit “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” passed away on September 6 at the age of 79 in Los Angeles, confirmed by his daughter.
• The show, which aired from 2005 to 2008, launched the careers of actors like Cole and Dylan Sprouse, Ashley Tisdale, and Brenda Song, and was followed by the sequel “The Suite Life on Deck” from 2008 to 2011.
• Geoghan earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Children’s Program for “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” in 2007 and 2008 and had a background writing for sitcoms such as “Silver Spoons” and “The Facts of Life.”
• Beyond television, Geoghan was a playwright with notable works like “Only Kidding,” which ran off-Broadway for 500 performances, and “Light Sensitive,” performed widely across the U.S.
• Starting his career in comedy in 1973, Geoghan was part of the New York comedy trio Divided We Stand and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue television writing; he is remembered for his joyous personality and is survived by his wife and daughter.