Richard Leakey, a renowned Kenyan conservationist whose work was frequently featured in film and television documentaries, died today at age 77. Details on what he died from and where were not revealed.
The Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta issued the announcement of his death.
“I have this afternoon… received with deep sorrow the sad news of the passing away of Dr Richard Erskine Frere Leakey, Kenya’s former Head of Public Service,” said Kenyatta.
Leakey was the middle son of famed paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey. He had no formal archaeological training of his own, but led expeditions in the 1970s that made groundbreaking discoveries of early hominid fossils.
His work was frequently spotlighted on film and television programming. His appearances included PBS’s Nova, CBS’s 60 Minutes, several National Geographic specials, and the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens, among other programming.
Leakey’s most famous find came in 1984, when he...
The Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta issued the announcement of his death.
“I have this afternoon… received with deep sorrow the sad news of the passing away of Dr Richard Erskine Frere Leakey, Kenya’s former Head of Public Service,” said Kenyatta.
Leakey was the middle son of famed paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey. He had no formal archaeological training of his own, but led expeditions in the 1970s that made groundbreaking discoveries of early hominid fossils.
His work was frequently spotlighted on film and television programming. His appearances included PBS’s Nova, CBS’s 60 Minutes, several National Geographic specials, and the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens, among other programming.
Leakey’s most famous find came in 1984, when he...
- 1/2/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with Jane Goodall, who stars in the NatGeo documentary “Jane,” which has been nominated for seven Emmy awards, including cinematography, directing, editing, writing, and documentary filmmaking.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The doc, which was written and directed by Brett Morgen, was compiled from footage long considered lost of Goodall’s first days in Africa, as a young scientist who would go on to make groundbreaking discovering about chimpanzees.
The trip down memory lane was “revisiting the best days of my life,” says Goodall. She’s been the subject of numerous documentaries before, but she says “Jane” stands apart — and not just because the footage...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with Jane Goodall, who stars in the NatGeo documentary “Jane,” which has been nominated for seven Emmy awards, including cinematography, directing, editing, writing, and documentary filmmaking.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The doc, which was written and directed by Brett Morgen, was compiled from footage long considered lost of Goodall’s first days in Africa, as a young scientist who would go on to make groundbreaking discovering about chimpanzees.
The trip down memory lane was “revisiting the best days of my life,” says Goodall. She’s been the subject of numerous documentaries before, but she says “Jane” stands apart — and not just because the footage...
- 8/23/2018
- by Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
As the gap between great TV and great film narrows, so does the gap between their respective awards organizations. Can a project receive Oscars and Emmys? In some cases, the answer is a resounding “No”: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences changed its rules after Ezra Edelman’s acclaimed ESPN documentary “O.J.: Made in America” won the 2017 Oscar. Never again, said AMPAS, will a multi-part TV “series” cross our stage.
Still, many two-hour documentary films see theatrical debuts before they hit television, which makes them eligible for both Oscars and Emmys. This year’s Oscar winner, “Icarus,” came from Netflix, as did Oscar-nominee “Strong Island.” And they are among the five films in the Documentary Emmy race, along with “Jane” (National Geographic), Matt Heinemann’s “City of Ghosts” (A&E) and “What Haunts Us” (Starz).
“Jane” has a chance at seven Emmys, including Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, Directing,...
Still, many two-hour documentary films see theatrical debuts before they hit television, which makes them eligible for both Oscars and Emmys. This year’s Oscar winner, “Icarus,” came from Netflix, as did Oscar-nominee “Strong Island.” And they are among the five films in the Documentary Emmy race, along with “Jane” (National Geographic), Matt Heinemann’s “City of Ghosts” (A&E) and “What Haunts Us” (Starz).
“Jane” has a chance at seven Emmys, including Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, Directing,...
- 7/30/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
As the gap between great TV and great film narrows, so does the gap between their respective awards organizations. Can a project receive Oscars and Emmys? In some cases, the answer is a resounding “No”: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences changed its rules after Ezra Edelman’s acclaimed ESPN documentary “O.J.: Made in America” won the 2017 Oscar. Never again, said AMPAS, will a multi-part TV “series” cross our stage.
Still, many two-hour documentary films see theatrical debuts before they hit television, which makes them eligible for both Oscars and Emmys. This year’s Oscar winner, “Icarus,” came from Netflix, as did Oscar-nominee “Strong Island.” And they are among the five films in the Documentary Emmy race, along with “Jane” (National Geographic), Matt Heinemann’s “City of Ghosts” (A&E) and “What Haunts Us” (Starz).
“Jane” has a chance at seven Emmys, including Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, Directing,...
Still, many two-hour documentary films see theatrical debuts before they hit television, which makes them eligible for both Oscars and Emmys. This year’s Oscar winner, “Icarus,” came from Netflix, as did Oscar-nominee “Strong Island.” And they are among the five films in the Documentary Emmy race, along with “Jane” (National Geographic), Matt Heinemann’s “City of Ghosts” (A&E) and “What Haunts Us” (Starz).
“Jane” has a chance at seven Emmys, including Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, Directing,...
- 7/30/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Allure (Carlos Sanchez and Jason Sanchez)
Capturing the complexity of abuse is tough to accomplish when mainstream audiences clamor for black and white delineations between predator and prey. Some go the horror route for metaphorical terror focusing on the pursuer while others go dramatic for the helplessness of a victim unable to break free. Writer/directors (and photographers) Carlos Sanchez and Jason Sanchez chose to throw out convention, using...
Allure (Carlos Sanchez and Jason Sanchez)
Capturing the complexity of abuse is tough to accomplish when mainstream audiences clamor for black and white delineations between predator and prey. Some go the horror route for metaphorical terror focusing on the pursuer while others go dramatic for the helplessness of a victim unable to break free. Writer/directors (and photographers) Carlos Sanchez and Jason Sanchez chose to throw out convention, using...
- 3/16/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Producer Christine Forsyth Peters has acquired big-screen rights to Richard Leakey's memoir Wildlife Wars: My Fight to Save Africa's Natural Treasures. Published in 2001, the book chronicles the famed paleoanthropologist and conservationist's efforts to stop elephant poaching in the Kenyan National Parks, a quest that put his life in danger. In 1993, Leakey was flying a small propeller-driven plane that crashed, crushing his lower legs, both of which were later amputated. Sabotage was suspected but never proved. Nairobi-born Leakey hails from scientific royalty as the son of renowned archeologist Louis Leakey and paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey. He is the author of such
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- 7/1/2013
- by Tatiana Siegel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Though Feb. 6 happens to be National Frozen Yogurt Day, Nutella Day, and — on a different note — Lame Duck Day, Google has chosen to go in another direction with today’s Doodle. The drawing celebrates the 100th birthday of Mary Leakey, a trailblazing British archaeologist and anthropologist famous for discovering the first skull of a prehistoric primate called the Proconsul.
Leakey got her start in archaeology by establishing herself “as an authority on flint points,” according to her website. She and her husband, fellow scientist Louis Leakey, uncovered a host of fossilized wonders in Africa, including the earliest known expert stone...
Leakey got her start in archaeology by establishing herself “as an authority on flint points,” according to her website. She and her husband, fellow scientist Louis Leakey, uncovered a host of fossilized wonders in Africa, including the earliest known expert stone...
- 2/6/2013
- by Hillary Busis
- EW.com - PopWatch
For the Museum of Television & Radio, it's an archeological discovery rivaling anything ever turned up by Louis Leakey or Margaret Mead. After nearly 30 years of searching, the museum has obtained a complete recording of CBS' landmark 1954 drama Twelve Angry Men, which earned Emmy Awards for writer Reginald Rose and director Franklin Schaffner and a best actor trophy for Robert Cummings. As part of the Twelve Angry Men acquisition, the museum also has acquired five hours of historic radio news coverage of the famed 1935 Lindbergh baby murder trial of Bruno Hauptmann. The radio coverage and commentary on the legendary trial for New York-area station WHN was anchored by Samuel Leibowitz, a famed defense attorney of the day, whose children owned copies of his broadcasts as well as the Twelve Angry Men kinescope.
- 4/16/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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