Joseph Hoffman; Wrote for Movies, TV Series

Joseph Hoffman, 88, who wrote more than 75 screenplays and such landmark television series as “Leave It to Beaver.� Born in New York City, Hoffman began as a publicist and served as road manager for Cab Calloway and his orchestra. He moved to Los Angeles in 1933 and wrote scripts, including “Sex and the Single Girl� starring Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood and “Against All Flags� starring Errol Flynn and Maureen O’Hara. Among Hoffman’s other television shows were “The Virginian,� “My Three Sons� and “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.� He also produced several television series, including “Ford Television Theater� and “Colt .45.� Hoffman was a former president of the Interguild Federal Credit Union. On Sunday in Los Angeles of heart disease.