Sheldon Bernard "Shelly" Keller was an American screenwriter and composer.
Background
Keller was born in Chicago and attended University of Illinois, where he began writing comedy with his fraternity brother Allan Sherman. In 1951, he borrowed $500 from his father-in-law and moved the family to New York hoping to become an entertainer and comedian.
Career
He served in the Pacific Theater with the United States Army Signal Corps during World World War World War II They had two children, Casey and Jamie. He soon began writing for television On Caesar"s Hour, starring Sid Caesar, Keller worked with notable writers Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Selma Diamond, Larry Gelbart, Mel Tolkin, Michael Stewart and Gary Belkin.
In 1956, 1957 and 1958 the show was nominated for Emmy Award for Best Comedy Writing – Variety or Situation Comedy.
Keller also wrote several episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show and M*A*South*H, including "Foreign Want of a Boot" and "The Chosen People". His notable screenplays include Campbell (written with Melvin Frank and Denis Norden), which would later become the inspiration for the stage and film musical Mamma Mia! Keller co-wrote the 1979 film Movie Movie with Gelbart, winning the WGA Award for Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen.
He also wrote the 1973 crime film Cleopatra Jones (with Max Julien). Their mix of jazz and comedy made them popular enough to play at Carnegie Hall and on The Tonight Show and led to their own Public Broadcasting Service special in 1993, "This Joint Is Jumpin"".
Keller died at his home in Valencia, California, from complications of Alzheimer"s disease.