EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of a huge week for their Adam Sandler-led Netflix animated feature Leo, co-directed with Robert Smigel, David Wachtenheim and Robert Marianetti have signed with Independent Artist Group for representation.
12.11.2023 - 00:19 / variety.com
Michaela Zee Robert Butler, the co-creator of “Remington Steele” and a veteran television director who worked on such series as “Hill Street Blues,” “Star Trek” and “Batman,” died Nov. 3 in Los Angeles. He was 95.
Butler’s career spanned nearly five decades, during which he directed many notable series, including “Hennesey,” “Star Trek,” “Batman,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Bonanza,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Gunsmoke,” “Hawaii Five-O” and more. He won three Primetime Emmy Awards: two for “The Blue Knight” in 1974 and the other for “Hill Street Blues” in 1981. He also received Emmy nominations for episodes of “Moonlighting,” “Sirens” and “Lois & Clark The Adventures of Superman.” Butler and Michael Gleason co-created “Remington Steele,” starring Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist, which ran from 1982 to 1987 on NBC.
Butler directed five episodes of the detective procedural series between 1982 and 1983, including the pilot. He also directed several feature films and TV movies, including “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t,” “The Barefoot Executive,” “Scandalous John” and Disney’s “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.” Butler was born on Nov. 16, 1927, in Hollywood to insurance salesman Edward Butler and Bea Olson, an elementary school teacher.
After graduating from University High School, Butler studied at UCLA, joined the Army Ground Forces Band at the end of WWII and, in 1951, earned a degree in English from the university. In 1959, Butler joined the Directors Guild of America, where he served 11 consecutive terms on the DGA National Board starting in 1985 and other leadership roles. The DGA honored Butler with the Robert B.
EXCLUSIVE: On the heels of a huge week for their Adam Sandler-led Netflix animated feature Leo, co-directed with Robert Smigel, David Wachtenheim and Robert Marianetti have signed with Independent Artist Group for representation.
BreAnna Bell An unscripted dating show based on author Candace Bushnell‘s “Sex and the City” book is in development at Bunim/Murray Productions, Variety has confirmed. Titled “Is There Still Sex in The City,” the program will follow four friends in their fifties as they navigate the immersive dating experience in a “love do-over” where they trade in their busy city lives for a “dating utopia.” “They’ll live together in a cozy country chateau where they’ll have their pick of a different group of men in each episode.
Naman Ramachandran International media consultant and producer Thomas Augsberger died suddenly on Tuesday at his home in the Hollywood Hills, his publicist informed Variety. He was 60.
Michaela Zee Marc Thorpe, the visual effects artist who worked on several “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” films before launching the bot battling competition Robot Wars, has died. He was 77.
The family of Emmy winning filmmaker Ross McDonnell has confirmed his death after remains were discovered on a beach in New York City.
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BBC Saturday Kitchen star and iconic restaurateur Russell Norman has died aged 57.
Dutch actress/director Halina Reijn made a big splash for her English-language feature debut last year with A24’s anti-slasher “Bodies Bodies Bodies.” Not everyone loved the movie (this writer didn’t), but once A24 becomes interested in an artist, loads of moviegoers also become interested.
Psychedelic Furs and Waitresses saxophonist Mars Williams has died, aged 68.The news was shared by The Chicago Tribune, which reported that the musician died yesterday (November 20) from ampullary cancer. He was diagnosed with the illness just less than one year ago.Born in Evanston, Illinois, Williams famously performed in the Chicago free jazz group NRG Ensemble and with the Waitresses, before going on to join the iconic English rock band Psychedelic Furs in 1983.His initial time as part of the band lasted six years, and he departed the line-up in 1989.
After media speculation about a dismembered body found on a beach in Queens on Friday, CNBC and other outlets, citing “police sources,” are saying the remains “may be” those of Emmy-winning Irish filmmaker Ross McDonnell, 44. Police have not yet publicly confirmed or denied those reports.
Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Of the many premature deaths from the wave of great ‘60s musicians, Gram Parsons is one of the most tragic. A deeply gifted singer and songwriter, he’s universally (if not entirely accurately) regarded as the patron saint of Americana music.
Hunter Ingram Before production got underway on Apple TV+’s “Silo” in 2021, creator Graham Yost’s inbox was a constant barrage of questions. “I would get 50 emails a day from production design and set dec and costuming with questions about the logic of what would be in a silo,” the creator tells Variety. Who can blame them? The challenge put upon the production top to bottom was a heavy lift.
Goodfellas and The Sopranos has died, aged 89.The death of the late actor is reported to have been confirmed by her granddaughter to the US Sun, although a cause of death has not yet been reported and no official statement has been released.In Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990), Shepherd played the mother of Karen Hill (played by Lorraine Bracco). The film also starred Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci.Shepherd also played Mary DeAngelis in hit HBO show The Sopranos from 2000 to 2007.
One Strictly Come Dancing couple are said to be 'most compatible' and could lift the Glitterball trophy - due to their weaknesses. This weekend the BBC One dance contest is ditching the usual ballroom in the Elstree studio for somewhere even more iconic.
Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter, one of the biggest female streamers and gaming creators in the world, has signed with WME for representation. She most recently was repped by UTA. Valkyrae is known for streaming games “Among Us,” “Fortnite” and “Valorant,” among others.
Caroline Brew editor Andrew Scott is not particularly interested in playing an antagonist similar to his James Bond villain C from 2015’s “Spectre,” starring Daniel Craig. In a recent interview with British GQ, the actor expressed his desire to continue playing more nuanced roles. “If I’m honest, it’s not a territory that I feel like I would want to go over again.
Star Trek and Batman, has died at the age of 95.His death earlier this month was announced in an obituary this weekend (November 11), which revealed Butler died just two weeks before his 96th birthday. “Robert Stanton Butler, revered television director, loving husband, devoted father and doting grandfather, passed away on November 3 2023 in Los Angeles,” the obituary read.Butler’s career spanned nearly five decades in which he directed many shows including Star Trek, Batman (the original Adam West-starring series), The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Twilight Zone, Hawaii Five-O, Moonlighting and many more.He won three Primetime Emmy Awards during his career – two for The Blue Knight in 1974 and the other for Hill Street Blues in 1981.Butler also co-created Remington Steele, a series which ran from 1982 to 1987 in NBC and gave future Bond star Pierce Brosnan his break.He directed several feature films and television movies too such as Now You See Him, Now You Don’t, The Barefoot Executive, Scandalous John and Disney’s The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.The Directors Guild of America paid tribute to Butler today (November 12).
Robert Butler, a television director for the pilot shows for Star Trek, Batman, Hill Street Blues, and Moonlighting, has died. He was 95.
Valerie Wu Intern Conny Van Dyke, a singer-songwriter signed to Motown Records who starred in such films as “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings” and “Framed,” has died. She was 78.
Australian actor and singer Johnny Ruffo, famed for playing Chris Harrington in Home and Away, has sadly passed away aged 35 following a lengthy battle with brain cancer. The former Home and Away actor and X Factor contestant tragically passed away on Friday 10 November at a hospital in Sydney surrounded by his family and partner Tahnee Sims. News of Johnny's passing was shared on his Instagram account and his heartbroken celeb pals have flooded the comment section with their emotional tributes.