He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1932, and he died of cancer in 1999 in Cerritos, California, at the age of 67.

[1][2] Broderick attended Harvard University, earning his bachelor's degree in social relations, and graduating magna cum laude 1953.

In addition to teaching and leading the marriage and family therapy program at USC, Broderick was himself a relationship counselor.

For three decades, he also assisted colleges and school districts in North and South America, Europe, and Australia in the development of family-life and sex-education programs.

Some of his books are scholarly texts written for an audience of colleagues, others are for students, some are for individuals and couples who are trying to find happiness in their marital and family relationships.