Bullwinkle, Do-Right Writer Chris Hayward Dead at 81

According to Keith Scott, writing in his book The Moose That Roared, a history of Jay Ward Productions and their most famous creation, Bullwinkle J. Moose, Chris Hayward started out as a singer who described himself as "...the New York State champion impersonator of Frank Sinatra," before becoming a writer working in the animation field.

His early credits include Time For Beany, Mr. Magoo, Tom and Jerry, and Huckleberry Hound. After writing most episodes of a late 1950's revival of Crusader Rabbit, which had originally been produced by Jay Ward, Hayward wound up working for Ward himself on The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, becoming one of the chief guiding hands behind the Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties series. Hayward's wife, Linda, also worked for Ward as his secretary.

According to the Associated Press, Hayward went on to co-create The Munsters, (he also co-created My Mother the Car, though the article doesn't mention that. Hayward probably didn't brag about it too much) as well as write for Get Smart and Barney Miller.

Hayward's death on November 20 at age 81 was announced today.