Career
The writing duo were the head writers for the 1960s television comedy series, Get Smart. Caruso began his career by writing for stand-up comedians at nightclubs, including Don Adams and Allen & Rossi, the comedy team of Marty Allen and Steve Rossi. They duo continued to collaborate on projects throughout their career.
Caruso and Gardner wrote 22 episodes of The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968.
They co-produced The Red Skelton Show. Together, they wrote other episodes of The Smothers Brothers Show, What"s Happening!!, The Ghost & Mistress
Muir, Happy Days and The Bill Cosby Show. Caruso and Gardner co-wrote a 1966 episode of Gilligan"s Island, "The Producer," which guest starred Philosophy Silvers.
Caruso and Gardner co-wrote television specials for Jerry Lewis, Bill Cosby, Robin Williams, Debbie Reynolds, Don Rickles and Jack Benny.
Additionally, the pair wrote several television films, including Break Up, which starred Bernadette Peters in 1973. And How to Break Up a Happy Divorce, a 1976 National Broadcasting Company television movie starring Barbara Eden, which the duo also produced. Dee Caruso and Gardner also worked on several feature film projects.
They co-wrote Which Way to the Front?, a 1970 satirical war flick starring Jerry Lewis.
The World"s Greatest Athlete, a 1973 Walt Disney production starring John Amos and January-Michael Vincent. And Doin" Time, a 1985 Warner Brothers film.
Caruso then became a screenwriting professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television, where he taught for more than twenty years. Dee Caruso died of pneumonia at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, on May 27, 2012, at the age of 83.
His memorial service was held at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Los Angeles