Notícias

Herman Rush, a prominent television pioneer and former president of Columbia Pictures Television, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Dec. 12. He was 94.

Rush got his start in the television industry in 1951 as a salesman at Official Films. In 1957, he acquired television syndication firm Flamingo Films, which he turned into a major independent syndication company. Rush also had an extensive career as head of the talent division at the agency Creative Management Associates, where he worked from 1960-1971.

In the late 1960s, Rush acquired the popular British sitcom “Till Death To Us Part” from Lord Lew Grade. He sold the intellectual property to the late television titan Norman Lear, who turned that show into “All in the Family.” The hit sitcom starring Caroll O’Connor ran for nine seasons on CBS. Rush also imported, repackaged and produced multiple BBC comedy television series including “For the Love of Ada” and “Love Thy Neighbor.

Herman Rush, who produced several television shows and was the former president of Columbia Pictures Television, has died. He was 94.

Rush died on Dec. 12 of natural causes in Los Angeles, his daughter Mandie told The Hollywood Reporter.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1929, Rush grew up in a show-business family, with his uncle Manie Sacks being Frank Sinatra’s first manager.

In 1951, Rush began his career in television, working first as a salesman for Official Film before moving up to several different leadership positions. He later purchased Flamingo Films, a television syndication firm, in 1957 and turned it into a major independent syndication company.

Throughout the ’60s and early ’70s, he was with Creative Management Associates as the president of the television division. He also worked for CMA’s predecessor organization, General Artists Corporation, now known as International Creative Management, and played a huge role in the agency’s entry into television packaging.