Remembering Nancylee Myatt: Celebrated Writer and Emmy-Winning Producer Passes Away at 68
Emmy-Winning Writer Nancylee Myatt Passes Away at 68
Basel, Switzerland — Nancylee Myatt, a celebrated writer and Emmy-winning producer known for her impactful contributions to television, has died at the age of 68. Myatt chose to “end her life peacefully and with dignity” on September 23, her birthday, as announced by her wife and writing partner, Paige Williams Bernhardt. Myatt had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in 2021 and Alzheimer’s disease in 2023.
Myatt’s career spanned decades, during which she broke barriers as one of the few female writers in the industry. Early in her career, she made her mark as the only female writer on the staff of The Powers That Be, a political comedy created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and executive produced by the legendary Norman Lear.
Her notable works include writing for the final two seasons of the iconic sitcom Night Court, where she contributed to the series finale, and serving as co-executive producer and showrunner for the first two seasons of South of Nowhere, a groundbreaking series on Nickelodeon’s Noggin network. Myatt also produced and wrote for The 5 Mrs. Buchanans and the fifth season of Living Single, for which she won an NAACP award.
A member of the Cherokee tribe in Oklahoma, Myatt earned her Fine Arts degree from the University of California at Irvine. She was not only a television writer but also a playwright, with works such as Two on the Aisle for Murder and Slumber Party produced in Los Angeles.
In addition to her television achievements, Myatt created the 1997 sitcom Social Studies and contributed to beloved animated series like Recess and Teacher’s Pet, winning a Daytime Emmy in 2001 for the latter. Her pilot Nikki & Nora, which focused on two women partners in both work and life, gained a cult following after being leaked online, leading to a web series in 2013.
In a 2017 interview, Myatt expressed her love for New Orleans, where she and Bernhardt moved in 2010. “When I’m blocked or need to work something out, I walk in the neighborhoods, cemeteries, Audubon Park or the French Quarter,” she said. “It’s all visually inspiring, and if you sit in a bar long enough in this city, someone will always tell you an amazing story.”
Myatt’s legacy in the entertainment industry is profound, and she will be remembered for her creativity, resilience, and the stories she brought to life. In her memory, donations can be made to the Louisiana chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or the National Spay Alliance Foundation (NSAF Savannah).
