Comedy writer Mickey Rose dead at 77

LOS ANGELES -- A childhood friend of Woody Allen who co-wrote his movies "Bananas" and "Take the Money and Run" has died. Mickey Rose was 77.

His daughter, Jennifer, said he died Sunday from cancer at his home in Beverly Hills.

Rose and Allen met in high school in Brooklyn, and became friends. They shared a love of playing jazz and baseball.

Rose met his late wife, Judy, through a blind date arranged by Allen.

Rose became a TV comedy writer. He wrote for Johnny Carson and Sid Caesar and for shows including "The Smothers Brothers," "All in the Family" and "The Odd Couple."

In a statement, Allen said Rose was one of the funniest humans he's known -- and a "wonderful first baseman."

-- AP