He was active in the Writers Guild of America, and served on the negotiating committee during the 1988 strike.
Turned to playwriting in the 1980s.
A maternal uncle, radio and TV pioneer David Sarnoff, who headed RCA kick-started his career in the early 1950s.
He was survived by children: sons Josh, Matthew Baer, daughter Judy, stepdaughter Michele, and three grandchildren.
His romantic comedy "Mixed Emotions" has been very popular in Russia. The play was staged in Moscow starring Inna Churikova and Gennadi Khazanov (2003). Since 2009 the show runs at the Lensoveta Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, starring Mikhail Boyarskiy.