As a gamer with a deep appreciation for the history and evolution of television, I can’t help but feel a sense of profound respect for Sam Strangis. His five-decade career spanning from the 60s to the early 2000s is nothing short of remarkable. From iconic shows like Batman, The Six Million Dollar Man, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, to sitcom classics such as Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, Strangis’ influence on television is undeniable.
95-year-old Sam Strangis, a five-decade veteran in TV production, direction, and studio management who contributed to series like ‘Batman’, ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’, and ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’, has passed away.
On the 23rd of July, Strangis passed away due to kidney complications at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, located in Torrance, California. This sad news was shared by a representative from their family.
From the late 1960s onwards, as head of production at Paramount Studios, Strangis steered iconic television series such as Mannix, The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, The Brady Bunch, Love, American Style, and Mission: Impossible.
Together with his producing partner Don Boyle, he left Paramount in 1974 to produce “The Six Million Dollar Man,” a new show on ABC (starring Lee Majors), for Universal Television. After this, he oversaw several television films, and later returned to Paramount as the vice president of TV production.
Instead, he decided to step out from the studio once more, with the intention of founding Ten-Four Productions – an autonomous production company. This enterprise was known for producing television movies like “Rainbow” (a tale about Judy Garland’s early stardom, released in 1978), “Reason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story” from 1991, and “The Rainbow Warrior” in 1993.
During his final years in work, Strangis played a crucial role in creating the initial two seasons of CBS’s “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000-02) and the debut season of its spinoff, “CSI: Miami” (2002-03). In 2002, he was jointly nominated for an Emmy Award in the ‘Best Drama Series’ category, recognizing the flagship series.
He started his professional journey on June 19, 1929, in Tacoma, Washington. His initial role was as a script supervisor at Revue Studios. This opportunity eventually paved the way for him directing episodes of the Western series “The Restless Gun,” which aired on NBC from 1957 to 1959 and starred John Payne.
Following his tenure as a production manager and overseeing nine third-season episodes of ABC’s “Batman” (1966-68, including the feature film), he embarked on his initial career phase at Paramount.
Among those who carry on his legacy are his wife Bonnie, whom he wed in 1968; their daughter Debi; sons Gary, a TV producer known for The Practice, and Greg, a writer and producer of shows such as Eight Is Enough and Falcon Crest; his sisters Judy, also an actress, and Cindy; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Services were held Aug. 22 at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Brentwood.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-02 02:55