Edgar Scherick

Last updated

Edgar Scherick
Born
Edgar J. Scherick

(1924-10-16)October 16, 1924
DiedDecember 2, 2002(2002-12-02) (aged 78)
Occupation Film producer, television producer
Spouse(s)Margaret Iwasaki
Carol Romann

Edgar J. Scherick (October 16, 1924 – December 2, 2002) was an Emmy-winning American television executive and producer of television miniseries, made-for-television films, and theatrical motion pictures. [1]

Contents

Life and career

Scherick was born in New York City, the son of Jennie (née Friedman) and Jacob J. Scherick. [2] He was raised in Long Beach, NY and graduated Long Beach High School in 1941.

Widely credited as a pioneer in network sports broadcasting, Scherick created the television program ABC's Wide World of Sports at his company Sports Programs, Inc. which he started in 1956 with $600.00. [3] In February 1960, Scherick sold Sports Programs to the American Broadcasting Company for $500,000 in ABC stock, where it became ABC Sports, the sports division of the network. With the acquisition, Scherick was appointed head of the ABC Sports division, then Vice President in charge of Network Sales. In June 1963, Scherick became Vice President of Programming for the ABC Television Network, where he created many popular shows including Bewitched , Batman , That Girl , The Hollywood Palace , and Peyton Place .

After his television career, Edgar Scherick became a film and television producer and executive producer of 75 theatrical films, television movies and mini-series through his company Palomar Pictures International and other entities.

In 1983, Scherick had a cameo role as Wilson Crockett, a network television executive, in the Martin Scorsese film, The King of Comedy .

By January 2, 1990, Scherick had gone to work with Saban Entertainment through its Saban/Scherick Productions division, which was for mostly television movies and mini-series [4] He died of complications from leukemia. [5]

Scherick hired and served as a mentor to many famous television and theatrical producers and industry executives including Roone Arledge, Brian Grazer, Scott Rudin, Michael Barnathan, Robert Lawrence and David Nicksay. [6]

Awards and nominations

Scherick's television body of work includes 6 Emmy nominations and one winning Emmy:

Many of the theatrical releases that Scherick produced or credited as Executive Producer were nominated for an Academy Award:

The film "He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'" is unique as it was for 31 years, the only production to win both an Oscar and an Emmy. Scherick won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program as Executive Producer but due to Academy rules, only the credited "Producer" (not Executive Producer) is eligible for a Best Picture Oscar award.

One film that Scherick was credited as Executive Producer, Path to War from 2002' was nominated for the Global Globe Award for Best Television Motion Picture. It was the last film Scherick produced during his lifetime.

In 1997, the Producers Guild of America presented Scherick with their "Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television," recognizing his outstanding body of work and lifetime achievement in this medium.

Scherick also served as chair of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame beginning in 1988.

Select filmography

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

YearFilmCreditNotes
1968 For Love of Ivy
The Birthday Party Executive producer
1969 Ring of Bright Water Executive producer
A Touch of Love Executive producer
Take the Money and Run Executive producerUncredited
1970 Jenny
Homer Executive producer
1972 What Became of Jack and Jill? Executive producer
To Kill a Clown Executive producer
The Darwin Adventure Executive producer
Sleuth Executive producer
The Heartbreak Kid Remade in 2007
1973 Gordon's War Executive producer
1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Remade in 1998 for television and 2009 as a theatrical film
Law and Disorder Executive producer
1975 The Stepford Wives Remade in 2004
1977 I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
1979 Fish Hawk Executive producer
1980 The American Success Company
1982 Shoot the Moon Executive producer
I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can
White Dog Executive producer
1983 He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' Executive producerFilm won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
1984 Reckless
Mrs. Soffel
1991 Rambling Rose Executive producerFinal film as a producer
2004 The Stepford Wives Posthumous credit
As an actor
YearFilmRole
1982 The King of Comedy Wilson Crockett
Miscellaneous crew
YearFilmRole
1979 Fish Hawk Presenter

Television

YearTitleCreditNotes
1953 Major League Baseball on ABC
1970The Man Who Wanted to Live ForeverExecutive producerTelevision film
1972 When Michael Calls Executive producerTelevision film
1974Ann in BlueTelevision film
1975 The Silence Executive producerTelevision film
1976Jeremiah of Jacob's NeckExecutive producerTelevision film
Raid on Entebbe Executive producerTelevision film
1977A Circle of ChildrenExecutive producerTelevision film
Panic in Echo ParkTelevision film
ABC Weekend Special
1978 Zuma Beach Executive producerTelevision film
Thou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryExecutive producerTelevision film
1979 An American Christmas Carol Executive producerTelevision film
1980 Mother and Daughter: The Loving War Executive producerTelevision film
The Seduction of Miss LeonaExecutive producerTelevision film
Revenge of the Stepford Wives Executive producerTelevision film
1982Thou Shalt Not KillExecutive producerTelevision film
Little Gloria... Happy at Last Executive producer
1983 He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' Executive producerWon Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program
1985 Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil Executive producerTelevision film
Evergreen Executive producer
1986 On Wings of Eagles Executive producer
The High Price of PassionExecutive producerTelevision film
1987Stranger in My BedExecutive producerTelevision film
The Stepford Children Executive producerTelevision film
Hands of a StrangerExecutive producerTelevision film
Uncle Tom's Cabin Executive producerTelevision film
Home FiresExecutive producerTelevision film
1988 Stranger on My Land Executive producerTelevision film
Lovers, Partners & SpiesExecutive producerTelevision pilot
Unholy MatrimonyExecutive producerTelevision film
1990 Anything to Survive Executive producerTelevision film
The Kennedys of Massachusetts Executive producer
The Secret Life of Ian FlemingExecutive producerTelevision film
The Phantom of the Opera Executive producer
The Girl Who Came Between ThemExecutive producerTelevision film
The RockExecutive producer
1991 Fever Executive producerTelevision film
The Rape of Doctor WillisExecutive producerTelevision film
1992Till Death Us Do PartExecutive producerTelevision film
Scorch Executive producer
Quiet Killer Executive producerTelevision film
Nightmare in the Daylight Executive producerTelevision film
Four Eyes and Six Guns Executive producerTelevision film
1994Betrayed by LoveExecutive producerTelevision film
A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith StoryExecutive producerTelevision film
1995 The Good Old Boys Executive producerTelevision film
Tyson Executive producerTelevision film
1996 The Stepford Husbands Executive producerTelevision film
The Siege at Ruby Ridge Executive producerTelevision film
We the JuryExecutive producerTelevision film
1998 The Wall Executive producerTelevision film
2002 Path to War Executive producerTelevision film
As an actor
YearTitleRoleNotes
1985Murder: By Reason of InsanityHoward NortonTelevision film
1988 A Year in the Life Gottlieb
1995Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: LightningMcLaughlinTelevision film
It Was Him or Us NoneTelevision film
As writer
YearTitle
1992 Scorch
Miscellaneous crew
YearTitleRoleNotes
1982 The Scarlet Pimpernel Production consultantTelevision film

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References

  1. Carter, Bill (December 7, 2002). "Edgar Scherick, 78, Producer For Television and Movies". The New York Times .
  2. Edgar J. Scherick Biography (1924–2002)
  3. "Our Respects to Edgar Jay Scherick. Network TV Salesman Turns Program Chief". Broadcasting . July 8, 1963.
  4. Apodoaca, Patrice (January 2, 1990). "Saban Seeks Older TV Audience : Programs: The founder of Saban Entertainment, which produces children's shows, takes the leap to prime time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  5. "Archives". Los Angeles Times .
  6. Speier, Michael (September 21, 2001). "Career Counselor: Edgar Scherick". Daily Variety .{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
Business positions
Preceded by Vice President, Programs ABC
1963–1966
Succeeded by
Preceded by
First
President of ABC Sports
1956–1964
Succeeded by