Norman Lear, who died today at 101, had been in the TV business for more than 70 years. Along the way, he’d written and created some of the most iconic and groundbreaking shows in television history and worked with some of the biggest of Hollywood’s stars.
After World War II, where he was decorated for his service in a B-52 bomber, Lear broke into show biz in 1950 as a writer on All Star Revue, where he worked with such legendary comedians as Jimmy Durante, Danny Thomas, Martha Raye and George Jessel. He followed that by working on the Colgate Comedy Hour with the likes of Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello and Eddie Cantor.
Those gigs led to Lear working on The Martha Raye Show, The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, Henry Fonda and Family and the film The Night They Raided Minsky’s.
But it was the ’70s...
After World War II, where he was decorated for his service in a B-52 bomber, Lear broke into show biz in 1950 as a writer on All Star Revue, where he worked with such legendary comedians as Jimmy Durante, Danny Thomas, Martha Raye and George Jessel. He followed that by working on the Colgate Comedy Hour with the likes of Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello and Eddie Cantor.
Those gigs led to Lear working on The Martha Raye Show, The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, Henry Fonda and Family and the film The Night They Raided Minsky’s.
But it was the ’70s...
- 12/6/2023
- by David Morgan
- Deadline Film + TV
Television pioneer Norman Lear died Tuesday at the age of 101. The TV creator was associated with a bevy of family comedies throughout the 1970s, namely “All in the Family,” “Sanford and Son,” and “The Jeffersons.”
Lear died of “natural causes,” his reps said in a media release shared with IndieWire. A private service for immediate family will be held.
“It is with profound sadness and love that we announce the passing of Norman Lear, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather,” a family statement, posted to Lear’s official social-media accounts, reads. “Norman passed away peacefully on December 5, 2023, surrounded by his family as we told stories and sang songs until the very end.”
“Norman lived a life in awe of the world around him,” the statement continued. “He marveled at his cup of coffee every morning, the shape of the tree outside his window, and the sounds of beautiful music. But...
Lear died of “natural causes,” his reps said in a media release shared with IndieWire. A private service for immediate family will be held.
“It is with profound sadness and love that we announce the passing of Norman Lear, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather,” a family statement, posted to Lear’s official social-media accounts, reads. “Norman passed away peacefully on December 5, 2023, surrounded by his family as we told stories and sang songs until the very end.”
“Norman lived a life in awe of the world around him,” the statement continued. “He marveled at his cup of coffee every morning, the shape of the tree outside his window, and the sounds of beautiful music. But...
- 12/6/2023
- by Kristen Lopez and Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Bill Cunningham, the voice behind Mattel’s original Ken Doll in the early 1960s, died on Saturday, July 15, just six days before the release of the new Barbie movie. He was 96. Cunningham’s passing was confirmed by Cesd Talent Agency, the company he founded more than 50 years ago, who told Deadline that he died at his home in West Hollywood. No other details were provided. Born on January 2, 1927, in San Francisco, Cunningham got his break in Hollywood after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. A talented singer, Cunningham began touring with Fort Emory Drum and Bugle Corp during his service before appearing on NBC’s Voices of Walter Schumann and The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cesd Talent Agency (@cesdtalent) In addition to providing the original voice of Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, Cunningham sang on several movie soundtracks and commercials throughout the early 1960s.
- 7/28/2023
- TV Insider
Bill Cunningham has died. The original voice of the Ken doll died earlier this month in West Hollywood, California, the Cesd Talent Agency, which Cunningham founded, confirmed on Instagram. He was 96.
Born in San Francisco in 1927, Cunningham, a World War II veteran, had a love of movies from a young age, according to Deadline.
Cunningham got his start on “Voices of Walter Schumann” and “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show”, before singing on soundtracks for multiple studios and appearing in many commercials.
On top of that, Cunningham, who was the original voice of Ken for Mattel, toured with Judy Garland and had his debut album, I’m Always Chasing Rainbows, financed by Fred Astaire.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Cesd Talent Agency (@cesdtalent)
At the urging of Peggy Taylor, in 1963, Cunningham invested his life savings in Pacific Artists Agency. Four years later, the Los Angeles-based company became Cunningham & Associates.
Born in San Francisco in 1927, Cunningham, a World War II veteran, had a love of movies from a young age, according to Deadline.
Cunningham got his start on “Voices of Walter Schumann” and “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show”, before singing on soundtracks for multiple studios and appearing in many commercials.
On top of that, Cunningham, who was the original voice of Ken for Mattel, toured with Judy Garland and had his debut album, I’m Always Chasing Rainbows, financed by Fred Astaire.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Cesd Talent Agency (@cesdtalent)
At the urging of Peggy Taylor, in 1963, Cunningham invested his life savings in Pacific Artists Agency. Four years later, the Los Angeles-based company became Cunningham & Associates.
- 7/28/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
Bill Cunningham, the original voice of Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, and a singer once backed by Fred Astaire who 60 years ago launched the company now known as the Cesd Talent Agency, has died. He was 96.
Cunningham died July 15 at his home in West Hollywood, the agency announced.
The founder was “among the great innovators and gentlemen of the talent representation business,” Cesd partners Ken Slevin and Paul Doherty said in a statement. “Bill set the template for client and customer service, particularly in commercial, voice-over and print. He was a warm, gregarious, classy man who made a positive impact on all those he represented and employed. It was our honor to know him and to learn from him.”
With the encouragement of friend and singer Peggy Taylor, Cunningham in 1963 invested his life savings into starting the Pacific Artists Agency, one of the first commercial and voice-over agencies in Los Angeles.
Cunningham died July 15 at his home in West Hollywood, the agency announced.
The founder was “among the great innovators and gentlemen of the talent representation business,” Cesd partners Ken Slevin and Paul Doherty said in a statement. “Bill set the template for client and customer service, particularly in commercial, voice-over and print. He was a warm, gregarious, classy man who made a positive impact on all those he represented and employed. It was our honor to know him and to learn from him.”
With the encouragement of friend and singer Peggy Taylor, Cunningham in 1963 invested his life savings into starting the Pacific Artists Agency, one of the first commercial and voice-over agencies in Los Angeles.
- 7/27/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
William “Bill” Cunningham, who more than 50 years ago founded the company that became Cesd Talent Agency, has died at 96. The agency said he died July 15 at his West Hollywood home but gave no other details.
Starting out as Cunningham & Associations in the early 1970s, Cesd now is led by partners Ken Slevin and Paul Doherty. Specializing in commercial, voice-over, print, digital influencer, theatrical/TV-film and young performer talent, it has 32 agents spread over two offices in Los Angeles and New York.
Born on January 2, 1927, in San Francisco, Cunningham was enamored with the movies at an early age and eventually found his way to Hollywood. But his country called, and Cunningham enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the PGM11 minesweeper craft during World War II. He also was a singer, and joined and toured with Fort Emory Drum and Bugle Corp, playing to audiences throughout the Pacific theater.
After...
Starting out as Cunningham & Associations in the early 1970s, Cesd now is led by partners Ken Slevin and Paul Doherty. Specializing in commercial, voice-over, print, digital influencer, theatrical/TV-film and young performer talent, it has 32 agents spread over two offices in Los Angeles and New York.
Born on January 2, 1927, in San Francisco, Cunningham was enamored with the movies at an early age and eventually found his way to Hollywood. But his country called, and Cunningham enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the PGM11 minesweeper craft during World War II. He also was a singer, and joined and toured with Fort Emory Drum and Bugle Corp, playing to audiences throughout the Pacific theater.
After...
- 7/27/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The film and television director, producer and writer died of natural causes at his Bel Air Home. He was 89.
Yorkin was born in the coal mining town of Washington, Pennsylvania on February 22 1926 and after serving in the Navy embarked on a career as a camera engineer for NBC.
He became a stage manager and then writer, working on NBC’s variety showcase The Colgate Comedy Hour. He moved into directing that show and then directed stints on programmes such as The Spike Jones Show and Light’s Diamond Jubilee.
Film director credits include Love Hurts, Twice In A Lifetime, Arthur 2: On The Rocks, The Thief Who Came To Dinner, Start The Revolution Without Me, Inspector Clouseau, Divorce American Style and Come Blow Your Horn.
He also served as executive producer on Blade Runner and played a role as producer in bringing to fruition the sequel, which is set to begin shooting next summer.
His credits...
Yorkin was born in the coal mining town of Washington, Pennsylvania on February 22 1926 and after serving in the Navy embarked on a career as a camera engineer for NBC.
He became a stage manager and then writer, working on NBC’s variety showcase The Colgate Comedy Hour. He moved into directing that show and then directed stints on programmes such as The Spike Jones Show and Light’s Diamond Jubilee.
Film director credits include Love Hurts, Twice In A Lifetime, Arthur 2: On The Rocks, The Thief Who Came To Dinner, Start The Revolution Without Me, Inspector Clouseau, Divorce American Style and Come Blow Your Horn.
He also served as executive producer on Blade Runner and played a role as producer in bringing to fruition the sequel, which is set to begin shooting next summer.
His credits...
- 8/18/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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