Sitcom writer Reinhold Weege dead at 63

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Reinhold Weege, who created the sitcom "Night Court," has died of natural causes in La Jolla, Calif., a family spokeswoman said. He was 63.

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the Chicago native's Dec. 1 death Friday, but did not report the specific cause of it.

Weege also penned episodes of the classic sitcoms "Barney Miller" and "M*A*S*H."

"In life there are those who impact us with such force everything changes. Reinhold Weege was that in mine. May he truly rest in peace," actor John Larroquette, one of the stars of "Night Court," said via Twitter.

Weege is survived by his daughters Tez and Alix; and granddaughter Zoe.