Edgar Scherick

Edgar J. Scherick (October 16, 1924 – December 2, 2002) was an Academy-, Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning American television executive and producer of television miniseries, made-for-television films, and theatrical motion pictures.

Life and career

Scherick was born in New York City, the son of Jennie (née Friedman) and Jacob J. Scherick. He was raised in Long Beach, NY and graduated Long Beach High School in 1941.

Widely credited as a pioneer in network sports broadcasting, Scherick created the television program ABC's Wide World of Sports at his company Sports Programs, Inc. which he started in 1956 with $600.00. In February 1960, Scherick sold Sports Programs to the American Broadcasting Company for $500,000 in ABC stock, where it became ABC Sports, the sports division of the network. With the acquisition, Scherick was appointed head of the ABC Sports division, then Vice President in charge of Network Sales. In June 1963, Scherick became Vice President of Programming for the ABC Television Network, where he created many popular shows including Bewitched, Batman, That Girl, The Hollywood Palace, and Peyton Place.

After his television career, Edgar Scherick became a film and television producer and executive producer of 75 theatrical films, television movies and mini-series through his company Palomar Pictures International and other entities.

In 1983, Scherick had a cameo role as Wilson Crockett, a network television executive, in the Martin Scorsese film, The King of Comedy.

By January 2, 1990, Scherick had gone to work with Saban Entertainment through its Saban/Scherick Productions division, which was for mostly television movies and mini-series He died of complications from leukemia.

Scherick hired and served as a mentor to many famous television and theatrical producers and industry executives including Roone Arledge, Brian Grazer, Scott Rudin, Michael Barnathan, Robert Lawrence and David Nicksay.

Awards and nominations

Scherick's television body of work includes 6 Emmy nominations and one winning Emmy:

• 2002: Outstanding Made For Television Movie – Path To War
• 1990: Outstanding Miniseries – The Kennedys of Massachusetts
• 1986: Outstanding Miniseries – On Wings of Eagles
• 1984: Outstanding Children's Program – He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (Winner)
• 1983: Outstanding Drama Special – Little Gloria...Happy at Last
• 1977: Outstanding Special – Drama or Comedy – Raid on Entebbe The Big Event

Also served as chair of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame beginning in 1988.

Select filmography

Some titles produced by Scherick include:

• For Love of Ivy (1968) – with Sidney Poitier
• The Birthday Party (1968) - with Robert Shaw
• Take the Money and Run (1969) – with Woody Allen
• Jenny (1970) - with Marlo Thomas and Alan Alda
• What Became of Jack and Jill? (1971)
• Sleuth (1972) – with Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine
• The Heartbreak Kid (1972) – with Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd
• Law and Disorder (1974)
• The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) – with Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw
• The Stepford Wives (1975) – with Katharine Ross and Paula Prentiss
• Raid on Entebbe (1977) – Charles Bronson
• Shoot the Moon (1982) – with Albert Finney and Diane Keaton
• Reckless (1984) - with Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah
• Mrs. Soffel (1984) - with Mel Gibson and Diane Keaton
• Evergreen (1985)
• On Wings of Eagles (1986) – Burt Lancaster
• The Kennedys of Massachusetts (1990)
• The Phantom of the Opera (1990)
• Rambling Rose (1991) – with Laura Dern and Robert Duvall
• Tyson (1995) – George C. Scott
• The Good Old Boys (1995) - Tommy Lee Jones
• The Siege at Ruby Ridge (1996)
• Path to War (2002)

Actor