As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of retro gaming and 80s pop culture, I find myself deeply saddened by the passing of Alan Sacks. His work on shows like “Welcome Back, Kotter” and films such as “Du-Beat-e-o” and “Thrashin'” were a significant part of my childhood, shaping not only my entertainment preferences but also my understanding of the vibrant and rebellious spirit of the 70s and 80s.
Alan Sacks, a co-creator of the well-loved 1970s ABC sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter” alongside fellow Brooklyn native Gabe Kaplan, has passed away at the age of 81.
Tragically, Sacks passed away on Tuesday in New York due to complications from lymphoma, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. His wife, talent agent Annette van Duren, confirmed this. He had been diagnosed with the disease 22 years ago and enjoyed several remission periods before it reoccurred.
In the 80s, when my dream of working with the legendary L.A. band The Runaways didn’t materialize as planned, I decided to utilize the footage and weave it into a story about a director under pressure to complete a film featuring Runaways member Joan Jett on time.
The movie titled “Du-Beat-e-o” (1984) that he directed himself was a portrayal of the raw, Los Angeles punk culture, starring Ray Sharkey and Derf Scratch from the punk band Fear.
Additionally, he was responsible for both writing and producing the skateboarding movie “Thrashin'” (1986). This film featured stars like Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler, and Pamela Gidley, as well as a musical performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers – marking their debut in cinematography.
More recently, he produced projects for the Disney Channel.
Originating from The Komack Co. and Wolper Productions, the television series titled “Welcome Back, Kotter” made its premiere in September 1975. In this show, Kaplan played the role of the witty and humorous teacher named Gabe Kotter.
Among those students at James Buchanan High School, affectionately known as the Sweathogs, were Vinnie Barbarino (portrayed by John Travolta), Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), Juan Epstein (Robert Hegyes), and Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo).
The sitcom lasted four seasons and 95 episodes through May 1979.
Born in Brooklyn on Dec. 9, 1942, Sacks earned his master’s degree in broadcasting from Brooklyn College, and his first job in show business was in the research department at ABC. In 1969, he moved to L.A. and worked as a program executive at the network.
Between 1974 and 1975, Sacks held roles as a producer and production manager for the TV series “Chico and the Man,” starring Freddie Prinze. This show was originally conceptualized by James Komack, who was the executive producer on “Kotter” at NBC.
In the following years, he created television movies like “Women at West Point” (1979), “A Cry for Love” (1980), “Twirl” (1981) and “The Rosemary Clooney Story”, titled “Rosie” (1982). These productions featured Sondra Locke in the leading roles.
In 1991, Sacks developed and aired the CBS Saturday morning kids show “Riders in the Sky,” centered on the humorous Western group of the same name. This program took over from “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which featured Paul Reubens as its star.
Sacks commenced making films for the Disney Channel, starting with “Smart House” in 1999. Subsequently, he created “The Color of Friendship” in 2000, a production that garnered an Emmy award and recognition from Humanitas and the NAACP as well.
He served as the executive producer for both “Camp Rock” (2008) and “Camp Rock 2: The Last Jam” (2010), which featured Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers in leading roles. Additionally, he worked on multiple projects with them, all while being affiliated with their company.
Sacks was not only responsible for penning, directing, and co-producing the 2006 off-Broadway show titled “Lenny Bruce … In His Own Words“, but also created documentaries such as “Elko: The Cowboy Gathering” (1994) and “His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Happiness from Compassion” (2007).
During his tenure with the Disney Channel, Sacks simultaneously started teaching at Los Angeles Valley College. He eventually attained the title of Professor Emeritus, imparting knowledge on film, television, and broadcasting till his retirement in 2007.
Sacks’ last work was the podcast titled “Peter & the Acid King“, which delved into the still-unresolved 1984 murder of his friend Peter Ivers, a significant figure in Los Angeles’ punk scene. In an attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding Ivers’ death, Sacks spoke to over seventy individuals.
Besides his long-time spouse (married for 34 years), the ones who survived are his daughters, Samantha and Shannon, his son, Austin, and his sibling, Jodi.
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2024-10-24 04:55