‘Bewitched,’ ‘I Dream of Jeanie’ creator William Asher dies

The director and producer behind the television classics “I Love Lucy” and “Bewitched” has died in Palm Desert.

Bill Asher was 90.

His wife, Meredith, confirmed he died early Monday morning at a facility in Palm Desert from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

Asher began his Hollywood career directing 100 of the 181 episodes of “I Love Lucy,” which starred former Palm Springs residents Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez.

He went on to produce and direct “The Patty Duke Show.”

He then created a show that agents eventually cast his wife — Elizabeth Montgomery — as the lead. The show was called “Bewitched.”

Montgomery and Asher had three children together.

Asher also brought Sally Field to television screens in series “Gidget” and took the same sensibility to movies as director of the teen romps “Beach Blanket Bingo” and “Beach Party,” starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.

Funeral services for Asher were not made public on Tuesday.