Dean Hargrove

Last updated
Dean Hargrove
Born (1938-07-27) July 27, 1938 (age 87)
Alma mater Wichita State University
UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
OccupationsTelevision producer, writer, director
Years active1960–present
Notable work Columbo , Matlock , Diagnosis: Murder , The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Spouse
Paula Vernay
(m. 1962;div. 1978)
Brenda Scott
(m. 1979)
Children1 stepchild
Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Columbo (1974)

Dean Hargrove (born July 27, 1938) is an American television producer, writer, and director. His background includes graduating from the St. John's Military School, [1] Wichita State University, [2] and attending the UCLA Film School as a graduate student. [3] He specializes in creating mystery series. He frequently worked with television producer Fred Silverman and television writer Joel Steiger.

Contents

Early career

Dean Hargrove was born on July 27, 1938, in Iola, Kansas. Early in his career, he received an Emmy nomination in his early twenties for his writing on the short-lived NBC series The Bob Newhart Show , starring Bob Newhart. [4] This series is not to be confused with the more widely known CBS sitcom of the same name that aired from 1972 to 1978.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Hargrove joined the writing staff of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. late in its first season (1964). His most substantial contributions came during the show's second season, where he wrote several episodes, including the two-part "The Alexander the Greater Affair", which was later edited into the theatrical release One Spy Too Many . He did not participate in the third season and contributed only one two-part episode during the series' brief fourth season. [4]

Columbo and Matlock

Following his work on U.N.C.L.E., Hargrove joined Universal Television, where he wrote for several series including It Takes a Thief and The Name of the Game . He was also instrumental in the development of Columbo , scripting the second pilot episode, "Ransom for a Dead Man", and serving as producer during the show's second, third, and fourth seasons. [4]

In later years, Hargrove worked with Viacom Productions and Paramount Network Television, where he produced several long-running television series. These included Matlock , which aired on NBC and later ABC from 1986 to 1995, Jake and the Fatman (CBS, 1987–1992), and Diagnosis: Murder (CBS, 1993–2002). [4]

Personal life

Hargrove married Paula Vernay, an actress born in Iran who appeared in Son of Sinbad . [5] The couple divorced after he had an affair with Brenda Scott, whom he would marry in 1979. He has one stepchild.

Awards

Hargrove won a Primetime Emmy Award for Columbo in 1974 and was nominated on four other occasions. [6]

Filmography (selected television)

YearTitleCreatorProducerWriterNetwork
1960–1972 My Three Sons nonoyes ABC / CBS
1964–1968 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. nonoyes NBC
1968–1971 The Name of the Game noyesno NBC
1970–1977 McCloud noyesyes NBC
1972–1975 Columbo noyesyes NBC
1979 Dear Detective noyesyes
1985–1995 Perry Mason television films noyesyes NBC
1986–1995 Matlock yesyesyes NBC / ABC
1987–1992 Jake and the Fatman yesyesyes CBS
1989–1991 Father Dowling Mysteries yesyesyes NBC / ABC
1993–2001 Diagnosis: Murder noyesno CBS
2002 Diagnosis: Murder noyesno CBS
2005 McBride yesyesno Hallmark Channel
2005 Jane Doe yesyesyes Hallmark Channel
2006–2008 Murder 101 yesyesno Hallmark Channel

References

  1. "Honorary Old Boys". Sjms-oba.org. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  2. "Dean Hargrove". Wichita.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  3. Buck, Jerry (January 4, 1990). "TV writer's key to success is a blend of character, star, humor". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. Associated Press. p. 46. Retrieved May 29, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Contributors Behind the Scene for The Man from U.N.C.L.E." Manfromuncle.org.
  5. Samuel Claesson (January 31, 2025). Glamour: Models, Mannequins, and Pinups of the 1950s. Sequoia Press. p. 142. ISBN   9798350736847.
  6. "Dean Hargrove". IMDb.com.