Irv Wilson, a former programming govt at NBC and producer of a number of excessive profile TV motion pictures that starred Jerry Lewis, Martin Sheen, Telly Savalas, Bruce Dern and Morgan Freeman, died December 26 after a brief sickness. He was 93.
His demise was confirmed by his longtime pal, Tom Nunan, who paid tribute to Wilson on Fb by writing, “Wilson cherished life, and anybody who grew to become near him knew {that a} good glass of purple wine, a bit of weed, [his wife’s] cooking, and a Giants recreation got here fairly near heaven for the well-loved, culturally complicated maven.”
Born in New York Metropolis, Wilson served within the Korean conflict earlier than returning to the Massive Apple to attend NYU through the G.I. Invoice. He would go on to spend his profession within the leisure trade, first as a expertise agent and producer, then as a TV programming govt for NBC the place he oversaw the TV film division and later, daytime and late evening programming. He labored alongside Fred Silverman and Brandon Tartikoff and helped to find future filmmakers corresponding to Ron Howard whereas supporting gifted playwrights like Stanley Greenberg.
After his community govt life, Wilson returned to producing work below offers at Fries Leisure and Viacom, the place he made a number of excessive profile TV motion pictures.
He could also be greatest recognized for govt producing The Missiles of October, an ABC made-for-TV play from 1974 in regards to the Cuban Missile Disaster that starred William Devane as President John F. Kennedy and Martin Sheen as Lawyer Common Robert F. Kennedy. Nunan says his pal was additionally pleased with his 1980 TV film FDR: The Final Yr for NBC that starred Jason Robards.
Wilson was a lifelong Giants fan, even after their transfer to San Francisco. He was additionally a information and data junkie and preferred to spend a lot of his retirement debating politics.
“He will likely be missed by many, however remembered by all who met him as merely an exquisite man, a real character who all the time managed to get you to select up lunch,” Nunan mentioned on Fb. “As he’d put it himself, he was King of the ‘Schnorrers.’ Look it up. It’s Yiddish, the language of giants.”
Wilson is survived by Anne Carlucci, his spouse of 46 years who was additionally a prolific TV film producer; and his daughters Amy, Julie, and Kate.
