Bernie Orenstein: key obituary facts
Is Bernie Orenstein dead? Yes. Bernie Orenstein died on September 14, 2026, at age 95.
Cause of death: Bernie Orenstein's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Bernie Orenstein known for?
He was a Canadian-American actor, producer and screenwriter.
More about Bernie Orenstein
Born: 1 January 1931.
Gender: male.
Occupation: screenwriter, television producer, television actor.
Also known as: Bernard Orenstein.
Occupations: Actor, producer, screenwriter.
Bernie Orenstein, a Canadian-born American television writer and producer who also worked as an actor, died September 14, 2026, aged 95.
Born Bernard Orenstein in Toronto, Ontario, he became a Canadian–American screenwriter and television producer whose credits included a long roster of programs. His writing and producing work included That Girl, The Monkees, Love, American Style, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Sanford and Son, What’s Happening!!, Kate & Allie and Cosby.
Orenstein collaborated with Saul Turteltaub, a professional partnership noted in accounts of his television career. His work on Sanford and Son also connected him with the spin-offs Grady and Sanford Arms, which were among the programs he wrote and produced for. Alongside his work in television, Orenstein served as a professor at Long Island University. His career encompassed acting as well as screenwriting and production, with the listed television programs documenting the breadth of his work behind the scenes. Together, the credits link him to a range of series, from The Monkees and That Girl to later titles such as Kate & Allie and Cosby, while his teaching at Long Island University represented a separate part of his professional life.