Leo Chaloukian, Emmy-Winning Sound Designer, Dies at 97

As a huge fan of the world of film and television production, I can’t help but be in awe of Leo Chaloukian‘s extraordinary life and contributions to the industry. This man’s story is a testament to hard work, dedication, and an unwavering passion for creating exceptional sound design.

The esteemed sound designer Leo Chaloukian, holding both Emmy and Oscar awards, and previously serving as the chairman of the Television Academy, has passed away at the age of 97.

Chaloukian, a renowned sound designer, passed away on July 18 at the age of 80-plus. He started his career at Ryder Sound Service back in 1954, and over the years, he excelled as an award-winning re-recording mixer. By 1976, he had taken ownership of the company.

Chaloukian and his team at Ryder Sound were awarded four Emmys, one being for the outstanding achievement in sound for the 1986 TV movie “Cross of Fire.” They contributed their expertise to National Geographic documentaries, David Wolper Productions, and various classic shows such as “Lassie,” “Death Valley Days,” “Sea Hunt,” “Maverick,” “Route 66,” and “Gunsmoke.” Additionally, they collaborated on Jacques Cousteau’s underwater diving specials.

In the world of films, Ryder was responsible for recording, re-recording, and mixing the sounds for Steve McQueen’s 1968 action thriller “Bullitt.” Meanwhile, Chaloukian supervised the sound design for “The Graduate.” Together with their team of audio engineers, they also produced the sound design for “Easy Rider.” Ryder contributed his expertise to films such as “Love Story,” “The Godfather,” “Chinatown,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and the initial installments of the “Star Trek” series.

In 1986, Ryder received an Oscar for the best sound achievement in the film “Platoon”. Meanwhile, Chaloukian recognized four gunshots in a recording of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and unwittingly provided President Nixon with the necessary equipment for his notorious Watergate tapes.

In a 2001 interview with the Television Academy, Chaloukian shared that Ryder had received an unexpected call from someone at the White House in Washington D.C., requesting to buy recording equipment without specifying its intended use. “Apparently, they planned to set up microphones,” Chaloukian explained, “Though they concealed them somewhere.”

Chaloukian was born on June 18, 1927, to parents who had fled to the United States as survivors of the Armenian Genocide. In 1939, they relocated from Chicago to a ranch in Agoura Hills, California. It was there that Chaloukian developed a passion for working with horses. He provided training and care for breeders and famous Hollywood personalities such as Joel McCrea.

I grew up on a ranch with my family, but as the years passed, we made the difficult decision to sell it all and move to Los Angeles. When I turned 17, I graduated from Belmont High School and felt a strong call to serve my country during World War II. After completing my military duty, I pursued various careers – working as a jeweler and even trying my hand at acting in a few films. However, eventually, I joined forces with a cousin and began working as a mixer at Ryder Sound.

In 1997, Chaloukian sold Ryder to the Soundelux Entertainment Group and took on the role of senior vice president. In 2000, Liberty Media Group bought Soundelix, which then transformed into Ascent Media Group, Creative Sound Services, and eventually a Discovery Communications division called CSS Studios LLC. Chaloukian carried on as the company’s business development vice president, retiring not long after the 2014 separation, at which point he became Todd Soundelux.

In recognition of his long-term commitment to the Television Academy, Chaloukian received the Syd Cassyd Founder’s Award in the year 2004.

2024-07-24 17:54

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