Anthony Thomopoulos

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Anthony Denis "Tony" Thomopoulos (

ABC Entertainment
, to President of ABC Broadcast Group.

Biography

The son of

Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
. There, he developed an interest in business instead. After graduating, he worked as a mail clerk at NBC's New York headquarters.

Business career

In 1973, Barry Diller hired Thomopoulos at ABC to oversee prime-time programming. He was noted, among other things, for the tough position he took in dealing with the contract holdout of Suzanne Somers on the hit ABC show Three's Company,[2] and for his quick cancellation of the 1982 cult favorite Police Squad!, explaining that the show had been cancelled because, among other reasons, "it required constant attention".[3][4] In June 1983, he was named president of the broadcast group.[5] He resigned as president in 1985[5] and became chairman of United Artists Pictures,[6][7] where he supervised such productions as Betrayed, Baby Boom, and The Living Daylights.[8] In 1989, Thomopoulos formed Thomopoulos Productions, an independent production company of both motion pictures and television programs.

From 1991

The Family Channel. He was named CEO of MTM Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of IFE, and was also responsible for all aspects of MTM Television and MTM Distribution.[10]

Thomopoulos was chairman and CEO of artist Thomas Kinkade's Media Arts Group[11] from June 2001 to January 2004. He subsequently founded Morning Light Productions.[12]

Personal life

Thomopoulos's first marriage ended in 1983 after 22 years, and produced three children. In 1985, he married television host Cristina Ferrare.[13] They have two children. As of 2011, they lived in California.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Τόνι Θωμόπουλος - Κορυφαίος παραγωγός και στέλεχος τηλεοπτικών παραγωγών στις ΗΠΑ". www.ellines.com. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  2. ^ Tom Shales, "Behind 'Three's Company,' Somers and Smoke", The Washington Post, May 12, 2003.
  3. Pittsburgh Press
    , July 1, 1982.
  4. ^ Steve Weinstein, "Never Ready for Prime Time? : 'Doctor, Doctor' is the latest wild and crazy comedy to find the going tough on network TV", Los Angeles Times, March 4, 1990."
  5. ^ a b "Thomopoulos Resigns as Head of ABC Unit". Los Angeles Times. 1985-11-12. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  6. The Vindicator
    , November 22, 1985.
  7. ^ Jack Mathews, "He Wants to Add New Pages to UA's Illustrious History", Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1987.
  8. ^ Al Delugach, "Thomopoulos Resigns as UA Chairman", Los Angeles Times, September 27, 1988.
  9. ^ "Anthony D. (Tony) Thomopoulos has been named to the newly...", Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1991.
  10. ^ Steve Coe, "Thomopoulos to head MTM Entertainment: leaves Amblin with three series on air, including powerhouse 'ER.'", Broadcasting & Cable, March 6, 1995.
  11. ^ Michael Hiltzik, "Future Clouded for 'Painter of Light's' Galleries", Los Angeles Times, February 3, 2003.
  12. ^ a b Lauren Beale, "Cristina Ferrare, Tony Thomopoulos sell Wilshire Corridor condo", Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2011.
  13. ^ "Leaving Her Trials (and De Lorean) Behind, Cristina Ferrare Weds in a Marriage Made in Private", People, May 6, 1985.

External links

Business positions
Preceded by President of ABC Entertainment
1978-1983 		Succeeded by
Lewis Erlicht
Preceded by
unknown
 President of ABC Broadcast Group
1983-1985 		Succeeded by
unknown
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