Herbert Brodkin
Herbert Brodkin | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 9, 1912 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 1990(aged 77) New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan Yale School of Drama |
| Occupation(s) | Director, producer |
| Years active | 1940s-1990 |
| Spouse | Patricia M. Brodkin (1917-1983) |
Herbert Brodkin(November 9, 1912 – October 29, 1990)[citation needed]was an American producer and director of film and television.
Brodkin was best known as the producer of the television showsPlayhouse 90,The Defenders,[1]the miniseriesHolocaustand the short-lived seriesCoronet Blue.
Brodkin was also the founder and president ofPlautus Productionsand also the co-founder of Titus Productions withRobert Bergerin 1965.
Early life and education
[edit]Brodkin was born to aJewishfamily[2]on November 9, 1912, in New York City,[citation needed]the youngest of six children born to parents Adolph (1873 – 1946) and Rose (Hunter) Brodkin.[3]Brodkin's parents were both born inRussia.His father immigrated from Russia in 1887[4]and his mother in 1894.[5]Brodkin had two older brothers; Nathanal and Milton (1904–1970), and three older sisters; Gertrude, Ethel, and Beatrice.[6]
Brodkin graduated from theUniversity of Michiganwith a B.A. in 1934 and from theYale School of Dramain 1940.[7]
Career
[edit]Broadway
[edit]Brodkin started his career as ascenic designerof the 1947BroadwaydramaO'Daniel.He was also thescenic designerof many other plays. Eventually, Brodkin would be theproduction managerof the playsTexas, Li'l Darlin,(1949), andSomething About a Soldier,(1962).[8]
Television
[edit]Brodkin began his career in television in 1950 as aset designeratCBS.Brodkin achieved recognition a few years later and became a producer for manyanthology programsof the 1950s includingThe Elgin Hour,The Alcoa Hour,Goodyear Television Playhouse,andStudio One.
Playhouse 90was one of Brodkin's most memorable production credits. Beginning in 1956, the series was able to put Brodkin's expertise in the theatrical arts at work. The series ended in 1960. Another one of Brodkin's memorable production credits was the 1960scourtroom dramaThe Defenders.The series starredE.G. MarshallandRobert Reedas a father-and-sondefense attorneyteam who, under the production of Brodkin, dealt with subjects such aseuthanasiaandblacklisting,subjects which, at the time, were very touchy for television. Brodkin also became famous for his use ofclose-upsandfast cutsin the series.[9]
Some of the other television series that Brodkin produced wereBrenner,The Nurses,For the People,andCoronet Blue,(all forCBS),Shane(forABC),[10]andEspionage(forNBC).[11]
Film
[edit]Brodkin also produced several films throughout his career.
One of those films include the 1981 movieSkokie.Skokie was the true story of constitutional rights inIllinois.The movie's plot was based on the real lifeNSPA Controversy of Skokie, Illinois,in the late 1970s which involved theNational Socialist Party of America.The movie starredDanny Kaye.[12]
Plautus Productions/Titus Productions
[edit]In 1959, Brodkin founded and became the president of Plautus Productions. The company was responsible for series such asBrenner,The Defenders,The Nurses,EspionageandCoronet Blue.The production company closed in 1967.
In 1965, Brodkin, along with producerRobert Bergerfounded Titus Productions. Titus Productions served as the production company for many of the TV shows and films that Brodkin produced including the 1978miniseriesHolocaust,and the moviesSkokieandMandela.The company was acquired by theTaft Entertainment Companyin 1981. The studio defunct in 1989.[9]
Personal life
[edit]Brodkin was married once to Patricia M. Brodkin (May 3, 1917–April 1, 1983)
Death
[edit]Brodkin died on October 29, 1990, inNew York City,New Yorkat theMount Sinai Hospital.He died of ananeurysmat the age of 77.[13]He was eleven days shy of his 78th birthday.
He was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Brodkin. He was survived by his two daughters; Lucinda D. and Brigit A. Brodkin. He was also survived by two older sisters; Pat Cutler, and Beatrice Forrest.[9]
Legacy and Honors
[edit]At Brodkin'salma mater,Yale School of Dramathere are two scholarship and graduate programs established by Brodkin. They areThe Herbert H. and Patricia M. Brodkin ScholarshipandThe Patricia M. Brodkin Memorial Scholarship.
The Herbert H. and Patricia M. Brodkin Scholarshipwas established by Herbert and Patricia Brodkin in 1963. The program is given to an outstanding student selected by the faculty of the school.The Patricia M. Brodkin Memorial Scholarshipwas established in 1983 by Herbert Brodkin, associates and friends in memory of his recently deceased wife Patricia. The program is awarded to a student of the school.[7]
Brodkin wasposthumouslyinducted into theTelevision Academy Hall of Famein 1999. Other inductees that year includedCarl Reiner,Fred Rogers,andFred Silverman.[14]
Awards and nominations
[edit]- 1956: NominatedEmmyas Best Producer of aLive Television SeriesforThe Alcoa HourandGoodyear Television Playhouse(NBC).
- 1968: NominatedEmmyasOutstanding Dramatic ProgramforCBS Playhouse(CBS).
- 1969: NominatedEmmyasOutstanding Dramatic ProgramforCBS Playhouse(CBS).
- 1975: NominatedEmmyasOutstanding Special - Drama or ComedyforThe Missiles of October.Shared with Irv Wilson andRobert Berger(ABC).
- 1978: WonEmmyasOutstanding Producer of a Limited SeriesforHolocaust.Shared withRobert Berger(NBC).
- 1982: NominatedEmmyasOutstanding Drama SpecialforSkokie(CBS).
- 1987: WonACEas Movie or Miniseries forMurrow.
- 1989: NominatedACEas Movie or Miniseries forMandela(HBO).[15]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]- Sebastian(1968) (Producer)
- The People Next Door(1970) (Producer)
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950-1951 | Charlie Wild, Private Detective | Producer | 2 episodes |
| 1953 | ABC Album | Producer | 2 episodes |
| 1954 | The Motorola Television Hour | Producer | 1 episode |
| Center Stage | Executive Producer | Produced all episodes | |
| 1954-1955 | The Elgin Hour | Producer | 2 episodes |
| 1955 | The Philco Television Playhouse | Producer | 1 episode |
| 1955-1956 | Alcoa-Goodyear Playhouse | Producer | 3 episodes |
| 1957 | Studio One | Producer | 4 episodes |
| 1959-1960 | Playhouse 90 | Producer | 6 episodes |
| 1959-1964 | Brenner | Executive Producer | |
| 1961-1965 | The Defenders | Executive Producer | |
| 1962-1965 | The Doctors and the Nurses | Executive Producer | |
| 1965 | For the People | Producer | |
| 1966 | Shane | Producer | |
| 1967 | Coronet Blue | Executive Producer | |
| CBS Playhouse | Producer | Episode -Dear Friends | |
| 1968 | CBS Playhouse | Producer | Episode -The People Next Door |
| 1972 | Lights Out | Producer | TV movie |
| Crawlspace | Producer | TV movie | |
| 1973 | Pueblo | Producer | TV movie |
| Rx for the Defense | Producer | TV movie | |
| 1974 | F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles' | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| The Missiles of October | Producer | TV movie | |
| 1975 | F. Scott Fitzgerald in Hollywood | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| 1976 | The Land of Hope | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| 1977 | The Deadliest Season | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| 1978 | Holocaust | Executive Producer | Miniseries |
| Siege | Executive Producer | TV movie | |
| The Last Tenant | Executive Producer | TV movie | |
| 1979 | Hollow Image | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| 1980 | Doctor Franken | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| Death Penalty | Executive Producer | TV movie | |
| F.D.R.: The Last Year | Executive Producer | TV movie | |
| The Henderson Monster | Executive Producer | TV movie | |
| King Crab | Executive Producer | TV movie | |
| 1981 | Skokie | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| 1982 | My Body, My Child | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| Benny's Place | Executive Producer | TV movie | |
| 1983 | Ghost Dancing | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| 1984 | Sakharov | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| 1986 | Murrow | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| 1987 | Night of Courage | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| Mandela | Executive Producer | TV movie | |
| 1988 | Stones for Ibarra | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| Doubletake | Executive Producer | TV movie | |
| 1990 | Murder in Black and White | Executive Producer | TV movie |
| Murder Times Seven | Executive Producer | TV movie |
References
[edit]- ^"Herbert Brodkin, 77, a television producer celebrated for his dramas on social issues died Monday".The Baltimore Sun.November 1, 1990.RetrievedNovember 10,2014.
- ^Television Academy: "Herbert Brodkin"retrieved October 23, 2017
- ^"United States Census, 1920 results for Herbert Brodkin".familysearch.org.RetrievedNovember 11,2014.
- ^"Person Details for Adolph Brodkin United States Census, 1920".familysearch.org.RetrievedNovember 11,2014.
- ^"Person Details for Rose Brodkin United States Census, 1920".familysearch.org.RetrievedNovember 11,2014.
- ^"Person Details for Herbert Brodkin United States Census, 1920".familysearch.org.RetrievedNovember 11,2014.
- ^ab"YSD Graduate Programs".www.tomshultz.com.RetrievedNovember 11,2014.
- ^"Herbert Brodkin at IBDB".ibdb.com.RetrievedNovember 11,2014.
- ^abcBlau, Eleanor (31 October 1990)."Herbert Brodkin Is Dead at 77; TV Producer Who Broke Taboos".www.nytimes.com.RetrievedNovember 12,2014.
- ^"Herbert Brodkin: Hall of Fame Tribute".Television Academy Emmys. November 28, 2017.RetrievedAugust 28,2021.
- ^"Museum of Broadcast Communications - Brodkin, Herb (U.S. Producer)".www.museum.tv.RetrievedNovember 12,2014.
- ^"Skokie (1981)".www.allmovie.com.RetrievedNovember 12,2014.
- ^Folkart, Burt A. (November 1, 1990)."H. Brodkin, 77; Produced Top Shows for TV".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 12,2014.
- ^"Television Academy Hall of Fame".www.emmytvlegends.org. Archived fromthe originalon March 31, 2018.RetrievedNovember 14,2014.
- ^"Herbert Brodkin Awards and Nominations".www.celebslight.com.RetrievedNovember 15,2014.
External links
[edit]- Herbert BrodkinatIMDb
- The Herbert Brodkin Television Production Files.Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
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