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*{{IMDb name|0723676}}
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* {{EmmyTVLegends name|lee-rich}}
* {{EmmyTVLegends name|lee-rich}}
* [http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/viewItem.do?ark=21198/zz0002p5z1 Image of Robert L. Jacks, Michael Learned, Richard Thomas and Lee Rich with their Emmys for "The Waltons," Los Angeles, California, 1973.] [[Los Angeles Times]] Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, [[Charles E. Young Research Library]], [[University of California, Los Angeles]].
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Revision as of 18:21, 30 June 2020

Lee Rich
Born(1918-12-19)December 19, 1918
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
DiedMay 24, 2012(2012-05-24) (aged 93)
NationalityAmerican
EducationOhio University
Occupation(s)Film and television producer
Known forThe Waltons and Dallas producer
Spouse(s)
(m. 1964; div. 1983)

Angela Rich
(m. 19??; ??)
Children5
AwardsEmmy Award

Lee Rich (December 19, 1918 – May 24, 2012) was an American film and television producer, who won the 1973 Outstanding Drama Series Emmy award for The Waltons as the producer. He is also known as the co-founder and former chairman of Lorimar Television.[1]

Among the five Emmy nominated programs Rich produced were the series Dallas and Knots Landing.

Early life and education

Rich was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 19, 1918. He earned a marketing degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.[2][3]

Career

Rich began his career in advertising and ultimately became an industry executive.

He served in the Navy as a lieutenant in World War II, and then returned to advertising in New York, where he rose to senior vice president and a member of the board of Benton & Bowles .

As the ad agency middleman between product company sponsors and television producers, he was involved with The Andy Griffith Show, Make Room for Daddy, The Edge of Night, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., and The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Rich left Benton & Bowles in 1965 to partner with the Mirisch Co. and form Mirisch-Rich Productions. There he produced The Rat Patrol.

In 1969, he, Merv Adelson, and Irwin Molasky formed Lorimar Productions. Its first production was The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971), a television film which led to Lorimar producing the series it inspired, The Waltons, featuring the same characters. The series ran on CBS from 1972 to 1981. Rich also co-produced the short-lived 1977 CBS espionage drama Hunter. Lorimar's biggest hit was the primetime soap Dallas, which ran from 1978-91. In regards to the famous Dallas storyline “Who shot J.R.?” in which Larry Hagman’s character is fired upon in the 1979-80 season finale in March and the assailant is not revealed until the following November, only Rich and writer-director Leonard Katzman knew which of three previously shot endings would be used.

After leaving Lorimar in 1986, Rich joined MGM/UA Communications. For two years he was the chairman and chief executive of MGM.[4]

Personal life

Rich married American actress Pippa Scott in 1964, having three children together before they divorced in 1983,[5] though they maintained a friendship until his death.[2] Later Rich had two other children with his second wife, Angela Rich.

Death

Rich died on May 24, 2012, at the age of 93 in Los Angeles, California from lung cancer.[2][6]

Filmography

All films, he was producer unless otherwise noted.

Film

Year Film Notes
1971 The Sporting Club
1972 The Man
1977 The Choirboys
1978 Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? Executive producer
1990 Hard to Kill Executive producer
1992 Innocent Blood
Passenger 57
1995 Just Cause
The Amazing Panda Adventure
1996 Big Bully
1998 Desperate Measures
1999 Gloria
2001 The Score Final film as a producer

Television

Year Title Notes
1967 The Rat Patrol Executive producer
Sheriff Who Television film
Executive producer
1971 Aesop's Fables Television film
Executive producer
Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate Television film
Executive producer
The Good Life Executive producer
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story Television film
Executive producer
1972 The Crooked Hearts Television film
Executive producer
Pursuit Television film
Executive producer
1973 The Girls of Huntington House Television film
Executive producer
Dying Room Only Television film
Executive producer
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Television film
Executive producer
The Blue Knight Television film
Executive producer
A Dream for Christmas Television film
Executive producer
Pomroy's People Television film
Executive producer
1974 Police Headquarters Television film
Executive producer
The Stranger Within Television film
Executive producer
Bad Ronald Television film
Executive producer
Apple's Way Executive producer
1973−74 Doc Elliot Executive producer
1975 The Runaway Barge Television film
Executive producer
The Runaways Television film
Executive producer
Returning Home Television film
Executive producer
Eric Television film
Executive producer
Conspiracy of Terror Television film
Executive producer
1976 Widow Television film
Executive producer
Helter Skelter Television film
Executive producer
You're Just Like Your Father Television film
Executive producer
1975−76 The Blue Knight Executive producer
1977 Green Eyes Television film
Executive producer
Bravo Two Television film
Executive producer
Killer on Board Television film
Executive producer
Bunco Television film
Executive producer
1978 A Question of Guilt Television film
Executive producer
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands Television film
Executive producer
The Young Pioneers Executive producer
The Waverly Wonders Executive producer
Desperate Women Television film
Executive producer
Long Journey Back Television film
Executive producer
1979 Some Kind of Miracle Television film
Executive producer
Mr. Horn Television film
Executive producer
Studs Lonigan Executive producer
Married: The First Year Executive producer
Big Shamus, Little Shamus Executive producer
Young Love, First Love Television film
Executive producer
Mary and Joseph: A Story of Faith Television film
Executive producer
A Man Called Intrepid Executive producer
1978−79 Kaz Executive producer
1980 Marriage Is Alive and Well Television film
Executive producer
Skag Executive producer
The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons Television film
Executive producer
Reward Television film
Executive producer
Willow B: Women in Prison Television film
Executive producer
Joshua's World Television film
Executive producer
A Perfect Match Television film
Executive producer
Secrets of Midland Heights Executive producer
1971−80 The Waltons Co-executive producer
Executive producer
1978−80 Dallas Executive producer
1981 A Matter of Life and Death Television film
Executive producer
Our Family Business Television film
Executive producer
Killjoy Television film
Executive producer
1977−81 Eight Is Enough Executive producer
1982 King's Crossing Executive producer
A Wedding on Walton's Mountain Television film
Executive producer
Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain Television film
Executive producer
This Is Kate Bennett... Television film
Executive producer
Two Guys from Muck Television film
Executive producer
Two of a Kind Television film
Executive producer
A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain Television film
Executive producer
1980−82 Flamingo Road Executive producer
1983 Dusty Television film
Executive producer
One Cooks, the Other Doesn't Television film
Executive producer
1990 The Face of Fear Television film
Executive producer
1993 Killer Rules Television film
Executive producer
Against the Grain Executive producer
A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion Television film
Executive producer
1994 Island City Television film
Executive producer
1995 A Walton Wedding Television film
Executive producer
1996 Dallas: J.R. Returns Television film
Executive producer
1997 A Walton Easter Television film
Executive producer
Final TV project
Production manager
Year Title Notes
1966−67 The Rat Patrol Executive in charge of production
Hey, Landlord In charge of production
1976 Sybil Production supervisor

References

  1. ^ Fink, Nikki (2012-05-25). "R.I.P. Television Mogul Lee Rich". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
  2. ^ a b c Vitello, Paul (May 30, 2012). "Lee Rich Dies at 93; Helped Create Both J.R. and John-Boy". New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  3. ^ McLellan, Dennis (May 26, 2012). "Lee Rich dies at 93; advertising executive became a top TV producer". Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  4. ^ "Lee Rich, Co-Founder of Legendary Production Company Lorimar, Dies at 93". The Hollywood Reporter.
  5. ^ https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118054663?refCatId=14 variety.com
  6. ^ "TV mogul Lee Rich dies at 91: Exec co-founded Lorimar, headed MGM/UA 859-803-3649". Chicago Tribune. May 25, 2012.