Eric Gilliland, an American actor, writer and producer known for his work on Roseanne and That ’70s show, among others, has sadly died.
Gilliland’s death occurred on Sunday, September 1st, 2024. No official cause of death has been publicly revealed.
Eric Gilliland was born and raised in Glenview, Illinois and graduated from the Glenbrook South High School in 1980 and from the Northwestern University School of Communication in 1984. He also attended the American School in London.
Gilliland’s career began as a writer on a short-lived sitcom titled Women in Prison alongside Kevin Kelton. Despite the sitcom not making any waves, he soon got the opportunity to work on great shows such as Who’s the Boss and The Wonder Years, before eventually becoming executive producer on Roseanne.
His later television work included working as a writer and consulting producer on That ’70s Show, My Boys and Mr Sunshine. He created the show That’s Life and was co-creator, writer and executive producer for Downwardly Mobile.
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Gilliland was also an actor, appearing in movie roles such as Samantha (1992), Teresa’s Tattoo (1994), and The Ultimate Gift (2007). He was a voice actor for the character Spud on the animated horror rom-com Hair High (2004) and played himself on Shortbus (2006). He also co-produced the 2007 documentary film God Grew Tired of Us about the ‘lost boys of Sudan’.
Away from his film and television career, Gilliland was an adjunct professor at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He was also an accomplished whistler, with his work featured on Sam Winch’s The Lullabadeer and on the soundtrack for a Penn & Teller: Bullsh!t! episode.
Tributes poured in for the accomplished Hollywood writer following his demise.
One tribute from Andrew Whitney read: “This man was a blessing, he was more than a friend he was my family. He took me in when I homeless, was my biggest supporter when it came to my career. And he f*cking married me to my best friend. You will always be in my heart, and tonight I will have my second sip of Laphroaig. I love you Eric Gilliland. Rest in paradise,”
And Kevin Kelton, who worked on Gilliland’s first ever Hollywood production Women in Prison, said of him: “…As stunning as his body of work was, it’s his body of friendships that prove who he was. I only knew him closely for a short time, but reading the outpouring of love and affection for him from so many people and the colorful, quirky anecdotes that are filling his page demonstrate a life written well…he was always upbeat, funny, fascinating, and bigger than life,”
