In memoriam

Ann Marcus

Remembering Ann Marcus

 Wed, 12/03/2014 We're sad to hear that writer Ann Marcus passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the age of 93. Marcus began her career as a "copy girl" at The New York Daily News and later became a reporter/researcher at Life Magazine . She broke into television-writing on The Hathaways , Camp Runamuc k, and Please Don't Eat the Daisies , and soon tried her hand at soap opera-writing on Peyton Place , Love is a Many Splendored Thing , and Days of Our Lives . She co-created and co-executive produced (...
Glen Larson

Remembering Glen Larson

 Mon, 11/17/2014 Prolific writer/producer Glen Larson passed away on Friday, November 14, 2014 at the age of 77. In his early years, Larson was a member of the popular musical act The Four Preps. He served as an NBC page, and soon worked his way up to story editor and producer on It Takes a Thief . He wrote for McCloud and created several memorable and beloved series, including Alias Smith and Jones , The Six Million Dollar Man , B.J. and the Bear , Lobo , Battlestar Galactica , Quincy, M.E . , Magnum P.I. ,...
Ian Fraser

Remembering Ian Fraser

 Fri, 10/31/2014 We're sad to hear of the passing of composer Ian Fraser , who died this morning at the age of 81 from cancer. Fraser directed music for Christmas in Washington , AFI specials, and The American Teacher Awards , and directed music for Julie Andrews in her many television specials (including Julie on Sesame Street ). He directed music for the cult hit The Star Wars Holiday Special , conducted for The Emmy Awards three times, and directed music for the Television Academy Hall of Fame broadcasts. He...
Don Pardo

Remembering Don Pardo

 Sun, 08/17/2014 We're sad to hear that long-time NBC announcer Don Pardo passed away tonight, Monday, August 18, 2014, at the age of 96. Pardo began working at NBC back in 1944 as a radio announcer, transitioning to the new medium of television in 1946. He announced for the original The Price Is Right , Choose Up Sides (a children's show on which he appeared on-camera as "Mr. Mischief"), and the original Jeopardy! (which launched the pop culture catchphrase: "Don Pardo, tell her what she's won!"). As a staff...
Robert Halmi, Sr.

Remembering Robert Halmi, Sr.

 Thu, 07/31/2014 We're sad to learn that producer/executive Robert Halmi, Sr. passed away yesterday, on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at the age of 90 in New York City. Halmi moved to the United States from his native Hungary in 1950 and soon found work as a photographer for Life magazine. He transitioned from a still photographer to motion picture photography, shooting documentaries for television and subsequently producing TV movies. He disliked working directly with the broadcast networks and major studios, so...
Dick Smith

Remembering Dick Smith

Thu, 07/31/2014 We're sad to hear that legendary makeup artist Dick Smith passed away this morning, Thursday, July 31, 2014 at the age of 92. Smith's interest in makeup began as an undergraduate at Yale University where he discovered stage makeup. He soon made his way to the fledgling world of television, establishing the very first TV makeup department at NBC in the 1940s. As TV's premiere makeup artist, he navigated the challenges of working with the early TV studio’s hot lights, the live schedule that left...
Bill Davis

Remembering Bill Davis

 Wed, 07/30/2014 We're sad to hear that Producer/Director Bill Davis passed away on Monday, July 28, 2014 at the age of 81. Davis began his career at the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and became a television director during the medium's infancy. He soon moved to New York to work in American television and got his first job on The Jimmy Dean Show . Throughout the 1960s Davis directed the specials Rogers and Hart Today and Herb Alpert's The Brass is Coming , as well as several episodes of the...
James Garner

Remembering James Garner

 Sun, 07/20/2014 We're sad to hear of the passing of actor James Garner , who died at the age of 86 on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at his home in Los Angeles, CA. Garner started out in entertainment as an actor/model and got his first break on Broadway in "The Cain Mutiny." His first big television role came when he was cast as "Bret Maverick" in the classic western series, Maverick . He enjoyed a prolific feature film career as well, starring in "The Americanization of Emily," and "Gran Prix," before his next...
Ruby Dee

Remembering Ruby Dee

 Thu, 06/12/2014 We're sad to hear of the passing of Ruby Dee , who died yesterday at the age of 91. Dee started out in show business as a feature film and Broadway actress, and soon won roles on the small screen, as well. She played "Martha Frazier" on Guiding Light for many years, and was also a regular on Peyton Place . Dee was heavily involved with the Civil Rights Movement, calling both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. friends, and enjoyed numerous roles in television movies and miniseries in the...
Nancy Malone

Remembering Nancy Malone

 Mon, 05/12/2014 We're sad to hear that Nancy Malone passed away on May 8, 2014 in City of Hope in Duarte, California from complications caused by leukemia. She was 79. Malone was an industry quadruple threat - actress, producer, director, and executive. She served as the first female Vice President at a major studio (20th Century Fox) and also co-founded Women in Film. Malone started out in the industry as a child actress and model (she was featured in Life magazine as "The Typical American Child" in 1946),...