John Aylesworth was born on August 18, 1928 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. was a Canadian television writer, producer, comedian, and actor, best known as co-creator of the American country music television variety show Hee Haw, which appeared on network television for two years and then ran for decades in first-run syndication. He was also a writer and producer, known for The Julie Andrews Hour (1972), The Sonny and Cher Show (1976) and The Judy Garland Show (1963). He was married to Anita Rufus, Ann Spencer and Nancy Atchison-Aylesworth. Aylesworth was a resident of Palm Desert, California. He died at age 81 on July 28, 2010, at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California, due to complications of pneumonia as a complication of pulmonary fibrosis. He was survived by his fourth wife, Anita Rufus, as well as by a daughter Linda and son Robert from his first marriage and a daughter Cynthia and two sons John and Bill Aylesworth from his second wife Nancy Eberle, along with one grandson Robert Karow. Another son Thomas died in 2003. His longtime friend and partner, Frank Peppiatt, died on November 7, 2012 at the age of 85.