Thomas W. Sarnoff, a longtime NBC executive who went on to hold leadership roles at the Television Academy, died on June 4. He was 96.
From 1965 to 1977, Sarnoff served as staff executive vice president, West Coast, and president of NBC Entertainment Corporation. During his time there, Sarnoff negotiated production deals with all-star talent such as Bob Hope and Colonel Tom Parker for many of Elvis Presley’s television specials, as well as spearheaded the contracts for NBC’s Burbank Studios. He was also credited with the production of worldwide touring family acts in partnership with Walt Disney such as “Peter Pan” and “Disney on Parade.”
Sarnoff then founded his own company, Sarnoff International Enterprises Inc., where he produced the “Yabba Dabba Doo” live arena tour centered around beloved Hanna-Barbera characters. Sarnoff also revived the iconic Gumby character for a 1987 half-hour series and executive produced three “Bonanza” movies.
Beyond his day job, Sarnoff...
From 1965 to 1977, Sarnoff served as staff executive vice president, West Coast, and president of NBC Entertainment Corporation. During his time there, Sarnoff negotiated production deals with all-star talent such as Bob Hope and Colonel Tom Parker for many of Elvis Presley’s television specials, as well as spearheaded the contracts for NBC’s Burbank Studios. He was also credited with the production of worldwide touring family acts in partnership with Walt Disney such as “Peter Pan” and “Disney on Parade.”
Sarnoff then founded his own company, Sarnoff International Enterprises Inc., where he produced the “Yabba Dabba Doo” live arena tour centered around beloved Hanna-Barbera characters. Sarnoff also revived the iconic Gumby character for a 1987 half-hour series and executive produced three “Bonanza” movies.
Beyond his day job, Sarnoff...
- 6/9/2023
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Thomas Sarnoff, the son of NBC’s founder who went from key NBC executive to leading roles at the Television Academy and TV Academy Foundation and founded the Archive of American Television, has died. He was 96.
TV Academy spokesman Jim Yeager said Sarnoff died June 4 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s nursing home in Woodland Hills.
Born on February 23, 1927, he was the youngest son of RCA/NBC media mogul David Sarnoff. Family lore has it that the younger Sarnoff was TV’s “first live star,” serving as a test subject for the RCA/NBC World’s Fair demonstration of television in the late 1930s.
But in 1949 — after serving in World War II and graduating from Stanford University — rather than join NBC, Sarnoff became a floor manager at ABC in Los Angeles. He was hired at NBC in 1952 as an assistant to the director of finance and operations and...
TV Academy spokesman Jim Yeager said Sarnoff died June 4 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s nursing home in Woodland Hills.
Born on February 23, 1927, he was the youngest son of RCA/NBC media mogul David Sarnoff. Family lore has it that the younger Sarnoff was TV’s “first live star,” serving as a test subject for the RCA/NBC World’s Fair demonstration of television in the late 1930s.
But in 1949 — after serving in World War II and graduating from Stanford University — rather than join NBC, Sarnoff became a floor manager at ABC in Los Angeles. He was hired at NBC in 1952 as an assistant to the director of finance and operations and...
- 6/9/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Thomas W. Sarnoff, who had a six-decade career at NBC as the youngest son of RCA/NBC media mogul David Sarnoff, has died. He was 96.
Sarnoff died Sunday, a spokesperson for the Television Academy Foundation told The Hollywood Reporter . No cause of death was indicated.
He was born in New York City into the fabled American media family on Feb. 23, 1927, and legend has it he was television’s “first live star” — a test subject for the Radio Corporation of America/NBC World’s Fair demonstration of the TV medium in the 1930s.
One of his two brothers was Robert Sarnoff, best known for succeeding his father as the CEO and chairman of the board of RCA.
Thomas Sarnoff attended Princeton University before his World War II service as a combat engineer and as a signal corps instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
After the war, he transferred to Stanford University,...
Sarnoff died Sunday, a spokesperson for the Television Academy Foundation told The Hollywood Reporter . No cause of death was indicated.
He was born in New York City into the fabled American media family on Feb. 23, 1927, and legend has it he was television’s “first live star” — a test subject for the Radio Corporation of America/NBC World’s Fair demonstration of the TV medium in the 1930s.
One of his two brothers was Robert Sarnoff, best known for succeeding his father as the CEO and chairman of the board of RCA.
Thomas Sarnoff attended Princeton University before his World War II service as a combat engineer and as a signal corps instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
After the war, he transferred to Stanford University,...
- 6/8/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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