Chris Bearde
Chris Bearde | |
|---|---|
 Bearde in 1963 | |
| Born | Christopher D. F. Beard[1] 18 June 1936 Richmond, London,England |
| Died | 23 April 2017(aged 80) Westlake Village, California,U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, producer and director |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Notable works | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In The Gong Show |
| Notable awards | Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Writers Guild of America Award |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
Chris Bearde(18 June 1936 – 23 April 2017)[2]was aBritish-born comedy writer,produceranddirectorbest known for his work as a writer onRowan & Martin's Laugh-Inand for co-writing and producing television specials forElvis Presley,Bob Hope,Sonny & Cher,Bill Cosby,Steve Martin,Jim Carrey,Andy Williams,The Jackson 5,The Osmonds,Dinah Shore,Diana Ross,andLucille Ball.He also created the format for the originalGong Show[3]and a number of network and pay-cable comedy series includingThat's My MamaandSherman Oaks.[4]
Early career
[edit]Bearde's career started in the 1950s in his adopted home,Sydney,Australia. After working in radio and serving two years in theAustralian Army,[5]at age 23 he became host of the children's television seriesSmalltime.
His appearances in this show and his writing for other Australian comedy shows was recognised by visitingCanadianand American producers, and Bearde was contracted by the Canadian commercial networkCTVto write a comedy series in the early 1960s, entitledNetwork.He created two shows for theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation,Front and Centreand Canada's first late nightpolitical satireshowNightcap.[5]
Move to Hollywood
[edit]After four years of working in Canadian radio and television, Bearde was signed by theWilliam Morris Agencyand moved toHollywood.There he created formats for several specials forNBCandABC.Bearde's method of combiningslapstickand political satire made him a resident writer on the originalRowan & Martin's Laugh-In.[citation needed]
While working with the producer ofRowan & Martin's Laugh-In,George Schlatter,Bearde created the formats for specials, includingDinah Shore'sLike Hep!(1969), andThe Grammy Awards.In 1968, he formed a partnership with Canadian producer Allan Blye and they created the format for the 1968 TV specialSinger Presents... Elvis(the"'68 Comeback Special") for producerBob Finkeland director Steve Binder. Bearde and Blye co-produced several specials forAndy Williamsand produced two years ofThe Andy Williams Showfrom 1969 to 1971. Blye and Bearde also created a summer series,The Who Is Ray Stevens Show,which featured the first appearance ofSteve Martin.Blye and Bearde also created and produced one of the first blacksituation comedies,That's My Mama,for ABC.[citation needed]
After splitting with Blye, Bearde created the format of – and produced withChuck Barris–The Bobby Vinton Showand the first major breakthrough talentreality televisionshow,The Gong Show.Although Bearde later sold his interest in the 1970s version of the program to Barris, Bearde's company produced a one-season revival of the show in 1988. He also producedThe Bob Hope Christmas Showand returned to Australia to produceTexaco Presents Bob Hope in Australia.[citation needed]
Bearde formed a partnership with ex-CBS president Robert Wood and created pilots and a children's series,The W.A.C.K.O. Show,for CBS.[5]Bearde directed a comedy film calledHysterical,released in 1983, starringThe Hudson Brothers.Bearde formed a long-term partnership withDick Clarkand producedThe Half Hour Comedy Hour,which featured the first national appearance ofArsenio Hallas a host. Clark and Bearde co-produced Bearde'slip synchit seriesPuttin' on the Hitsin 1985.[5][6]
Bearde formed a co-production partnership with Vin Di Bona, the producer ofAmerica's Funniest Home Videos.He created and producedHBO's cult series satirizing television newsNight Rap[2][dead link]andShowtime's comedy hitSherman Oaks.[4]Di Bona and Bearde also produced several specials for CBS.
Move to Las Vegas
[edit]In 2005, Bearde moved his operation toLas Vegasand created and trademarked "Chris Bearde's International Comedy Hall of Fame", a 30,000 sq ft (3,000 m2) entertainment retail restaurant and comedy tribute exhibition complex, currently[when?]in the design and planning stages. Each year there are several Comedy Awards and Induction Ceremony TV specials included in the package.[citation needed]
Bearde has received anEmmy Award,and aWriters Guild of America Award.The Chris Bearde School of Comedywas founded in Las Vegas in 2007 and moved to Los Angeles in 2008. The school is still in operation.[7]
Death
[edit]Bearde died at his home inWestlake Village, Californiaof a cardiac arrest on 23 April 2017 at the age of 80. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Stonecloud, 6 children, 2 step children and 7 grandchildren.[8]
References
[edit]- ^England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007
- ^ab"Profile".tv.Retrieved27 December2007.[dead link]
- ^Kitman, Marvin(27 October 1985)."The Marvin Kitman Sunday Show: In the Land of Lip-Synch".Newsday.Archived fromthe originalon 4 June 2011.Retrieved1 March2010.
- ^ab"Post-Gazette".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.15 July 1995.Retrieved1 March2010.
- ^abcd"Profiles".milesago.Retrieved27 December2007.
- ^"Kentucky New Era - Google News Archive Search".Retrieved1 March2010.
- ^Notice of death of Chris Bearde,deadline; accessed 7 May 2017.
- ^Mike Barnes (7 May 2017)."Chris Bearde, of Writer on 'Laugh-In' and Creator of 'The Gong Show,' Dies at 80".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved24 April2017.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
