Family Honors Sherwood Schwartz at Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

As tour buses trundled down Hollywood Boulevard and throngs of tourists crowded the sidewalk, the traffic bottlenecked for a moment at a small gathering around one star, that of TV writer-producer Sherwood Schwartz, who died Tuesday.

One woman crouched, kissed her hand and delicately touched the star of the man who created The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island. She was among the nearly two dozen Schwartz relatives who came to his Walk of Fame star Tuesday to view a wreath of flowers sent by the Hollywood Historic Trust. 

Schwartz died this morning at the age of 94 surrounded by family at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, family members said.

“We’re the Schwartz flash mob,” joked his daughter, Hope Juber of Studio City, upon seeing an increasing number of relatives joining the group.

The man who created a show about family apparently had much to draw upon from his own life. 

After a worker delivered a wreath of ivory and lavender roses, the group formed a circle in front of Schwartz’s star to say a few words and celebrate his accomplishments, both on and off the screen.

“It was part of his legacy: He made a family who comes together,” Juber said.

“There aren’t as many writers, producers, behind the scenes people [on the Walk of Fame]. Most of the stars belong to performers in front of the camera,” Juber said. “My dad was acknowledged enough and warranted this kind of recognition and he was very very proud.”

“[After the star ceremony] he realized he was with all these people that he knew and loved and admired and worked with,” added son Lloyd Schwartz.

Ross Schwartz, one of Sherwood's three sons, said he walked to the family gathering from his home behind the Hollywood Bowl.

“I walk by this all the time on the way to dinner,” Ross said.

“It needs to be polished,” Lloyd said with a grin.

“I have polished it,” Ross answered. “You should have seen the way it looked before!”

Schwartz received the star in 2008. Florence Henderson and Dawn Wells, stars of The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island, respectively, were in attendance at that ceremony.

Schwartz is survived by wife Mildred, sons Ross, Lloyd and Donald Schwartz; daughter Hope Juber; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

His family provided The Hollywood Reporter with a farewell letter that was published Tuesday. It was his intent to have the document published in THR after his death, the entertainment news website reported.