Eric Monte - Godfather of Sitcoms

Eric Monte was born Kenneth Paul Williams on December 25, 1943, in Chicago, IL. Raised in one of the most notorious and dangerous projects in the world, Cabrini Greens, Eric, was a dreamer, an intellect, and a storyteller. A writer was created when, once as a young boy, Kenneth (now Eric) was playing as the Long Ranger, and a man walked by him and asked who was he supposed to be. Lil Ken replied, the LOOOOONG Ranger! The man then told him that he could not be the Long Ranger because the Long Ranger was not black! Lil Ken was crushed! He vowed there and then that he was going to become a writer and create black heroes! With $10.00 in his pocket, a knapsack, a story, and a dream, Eric hitched-hiked from Chicago to California. With his dreams in tow, and after sleeping on park benches for over two years; Eric Monte became one of the first African-American screenwriters to write and create several black TV sitcom series. Monte is known for his works depicting 1970s African-American culture, such as television shows Good Times, The Jeffersons, What's Happening & What's Happening Now; both spinoffs of his movie Cooley High, which was based on his high school experiences. This film and these sitcoms went on to become household names and cultural icons in the entertainment industry and in Black History today. He is now considered the Godfather of sitcoms!