Coslough Johnson Papers, c. 1941, 1946-47, 1968-1993, 2001 | University of Illinois Archives

Adiminsrative/Biographical History: Howard L. Johnson, A.K.A "Coslough" Johnson (1931-2023), was a writer and producer who was best known for his work writing for the show "Laugh-In," a popular comedy show in the 1960s-70s. Coslough is the younger brother of comedian Arte Johnson and was born in 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. Following his graduation from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in radio journalism in 1952, Coslough joined his brother in the entertainment industry as a screenwriter. Coslough won an Emmy award in 1968 for his work writing for "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In." Coslough is also the original concept creator of the popular sitcom "Nightcourt," which aired from the mid-1980s to the 1990s. Coslough's career spanned from the late 1960s through the early 1990s, with writing contributions to television, movie screenplays, and books. He married his wife Mary Jane Ferguson in 1975. Coslough passed away in 2023 at the age of 91.