Jim Geoghan, co-creator of ‘Suite Life of Zack & Cody,’ dies at 79

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jim Geoghan, co-creator of 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,' died on Sunday, September 6, in Los Angeles. He was 79, and his daughter, Genevieve Geoghan, confirmed his death to TMZ and The Hollywood Reporter.

Geoghan had been battling dementia, though no cause of death has been shared.

Jim Geoghan’s television and stage career

Geoghan was best known for his sitcom writing from the 1970s through the 2000s and earned two Outstanding Children’s Program Emmys for 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.' He began his career as part of the stand-up comedy trio Divided We Stand, which performed in New York City during the 1970s.

He eventually moved into television writing, working on 'Three’s Company,' 'Sanford,' 'Too Close for Comfort,' 'The Facts of Life,' 'The Van Dyke Show' and 'It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,' which he also produced. His earlier writing credits included 'Kate & Allie,' 'Mama’s Family' and 'Amen.'

He also worked as a writer and producer on 'Family Matters' and 'Silver Spoons.'

Beyond television, Geoghan wrote for the stage. His Off-Broadway play 'Only Kidding' premiered in 1988, ran for 500 performances and was later staged at regional theaters. The production received two Drama Desk Award nominations. 

He also wrote the 1993 play 'Light Sensitive,' which premiered at San Diego’s Old Globe Theater and has since been produced more than 40 times across the country.

Jim Geoghan’s legacy with 'The Suite Life'

In 2005, Geoghan and Danny Kallis co-created the hit Disney Channel series 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,' starring Cole and Dylan Sprouse, Ashley Tisdale, Brenda Song, Phil Lewis and Kim Rhodes.

The original series concluded after three seasons in 2008. Geoghan, Kallis and Pamela Eells later co-created its spinoff, 'The Suite Life on Deck,' and Geoghan also wrote the feature film inspired by the series, 'The Suite Life Movie,' in 2011.

Geoghan additionally served as executive producer of the series’ Indian adaptation, 'The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir.' Kim Rhodes paid tribute to Geoghan on Instagram on Tuesday, Sept. 8, remembering him as “one of the most incredible humans this world has ever seen.”

Rhodes recalled her favorite episode, in which Cody learns to let a bird fly free, noting that Geoghan wrote the episode about motherhood for her after her mother died. “He was a big man with a loud laugh and a jolly manner, not given to moments of obviously vulnerable connection at work,” Rhodes wrote.

“But he wrote that for me after my mother died, as a gift. Possibly the greatest kindness anyone has ever done me. We lost a good one,” she continued.

Geoghan is survived by his wife of 45 years, Annie, and their daughter, Genevieve.