Actualités

Kent McCray, producer of the classic Little House on the Prairie series, died of natural causes on June 3 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 89 years old.

As native Hartford, Conn., McCray’s career spanned more than 50 years. He was born on June 7, 1928, and is the second son of Thomas Chapman McCray, who was an executive with the NBC Radio Network as well as Dorothy Baldwin McCray who was a singer and a musician.

After graduating from Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire — where his love of storytelling grew — he studied theater arts at the University of Hartford under Dr. Elemer Nagy. After receiving his diploma in 1948 he worked for the Central City Opera Association in Colorado and then went on to build his television career in Los Angeles.

He was a production coordinator on the All-Star Revue and The Colgate Comedy Hour at NBC and then worked for...

“Little House on the Prairie” producer Kent McCray died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 89.

McCray was born on June 7, 1928, the second son of Thomas Chapman McCray — an executive with the NBC Radio Network — and singer Dorothy Baldwin McCray. A Hartford, Conn., native, McCray found his passion for entertainment early on during his time at the Kimball Union Academy prep school in New Hampshire. While at Kimball, McCray built sets, directed, acted, and sang in several school theatrical productions.

Three years after graduating from the University of Hartford, McCray began his television career at NBC in L.A. as a production coordinator on the “All Star Revue” and “The Colgate Comedy Hour.” Other assignments followed quickly, including “The Red Skelton Show,” “The Ralph Edwards Show,” “This Is Your Life,” and “You Bet Your Life” starring Groucho Marx.

When NBC announced its shift away from live television into filmed entertainment,...

Kent McCray, a producer and production manager who collaborated with the late Michael Landon on the NBC dramas Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Highway to Heaven and Father Murphy, has died. He was 89.

McCray died Sunday in Los Angeles of natural causes, publicist Jeff Sanderson announced.

While serving as a production manager on Bonanza — he worked on the legendary NBC drama from 1962 until its conclusion in 1973 — McCray became friends with Landon, who played Joe Cartwright on the show.

In 1974, McCray was named associate producer of the two-hour pilot for Little House on the Prairie, based ...

Kent McCray, a producer and production manager who collaborated with the late Michael Landon on the NBC dramas Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Highway to Heaven and Father Murphy, has died. He was 89.

McCray died Sunday in Los Angeles of natural causes, publicist Jeff Sanderson announced.

While serving as a production manager on Bonanza — he worked on the legendary NBC drama from 1962 until its conclusion in 1973 — McCray became friends with Landon, who played Joe Cartwright on the show.

In 1974, McCray was named associate producer of the two-hour pilot for Little House on the Prairie, based ...

The Hartt School's Theatre Division presents Twelve Angry Women and Waiting for Godot in repertory, on October 29 through November 1, at the Kent McCray Theater, Mort and Imra Handel Performing Arts Center, 35 Westbourne Parkway, Hartford. Twelve Angry Women plays Friday, October 30, at 7:30 Pm; Saturday, October 31, at 2:00 Pm; and Sunday, November 1, at 7:30 Pm. Waiting for Godot plays Thursday, October 29, at 7:30 Pm; Saturday, October 31, at 7:30 Pm; and Sunday, November 1, at 2:00 Pm. Admission is $20, with discounts for seniors, students, and groups. Please call the University Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587 or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt for more information.

Adapted by Sherman Sergel and based on the Emmy award-winning television movie by Reginald Rose, Twelve Angry Women is the compelling drama of a 19-year-old boy who has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It appears to be an open-and-shut case until one of the jurors...

The Hartt School presents the musicals 110 in the Shade and The Fantastics, in repertory, Thursday through Sunday, April 23 to 26, at the Kent McCray Theater, Mort and Irma Handel Performing Arts Center, 35 Westbourne Pkwy, Hartford. Admission is $20 with discounts for seniors, students, and groups. Please call the University Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587 or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt for tickets and more information.