Hal Cooper (director)

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Hal Cooper
Born
Harold Cooper

(1923-02-23)February 23, 1923
The Bronx, New York, United States
DiedApril 11, 2014(2014-04-11) (aged 91)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Occupation(s)Television director, executive producer
Spouse(s)Pat Meikle (1944-1970)
Martha Salcido (1971-2010)

Harold "Hal" Cooper (February 23, 1923 – April 11, 2014) was an American television director and executive producer who worked primarily on sitcoms. After establishing himself as a pioneer of the Golden Age of Television,[1] Cooper became a regular director on many of the popular and enduring shows of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Cooper directed 54 episodes of

Directors Guild of America Awards
.

Early life

Born in The Bronx, New York, on February 23, 1923, Cooper began his entertainment career at the age of 9, becoming part of the acting troupe on the children's radio show Rainbow House. When he wasn't on microphone, Cooper spent his time in the control room, learning about directing from the show's producer and director, Bob Emery. One day in 1936, Emery fell ill two hours before the show was to go live and he chose Cooper to fill in for him, resulting in Cooper directing his first live broadcast at the age of 13.[1]

In 1940, Cooper began attending the

Pacific Theater of Operations
. He returned to the university in 1946 and graduated with a B.A. that same year, after which he set out on a career in live television.

Career

Cooper wrote, produced and acted in the pioneering live daytime children's series Your Television Babysitter for the DuMont Network. This show, which was co-written and hosted by Cooper's wife, Pat Meikle, aired on DuMont's first full day television broadcasting and led to a spin-off, The Magic Cottage, which Cooper also produced.[1]

From 1950 to 1957, Cooper directed and produced a number of daytime soap operas, including

Dear John
. He was also an executive producer on the latter three series.

TV movies and pilots

  • Bobby Jo and the Good Time Band (1972 CBS pilot)
  • Jerry (1974 CBS pilot)
  • The Rear Guard (1976 ABC pilot)
  • Freeman (1976 ABC pilot)
  • McNamara's Band (1977 ABC pilot)
  • King of the Road (1978 pilot)
  • Snavely (1978 ABC pilot)
  • Did You Hear About Josh and Kelly? (1980 pilot)
  • Mr. and Mrs. and Mr. (1980 TV movie)
  • And They Lived Happily Ever After (1981 CBS pilot)
  • Million Dollar Infield (1982 TV movie)
  • The Astronauts (1982 CBS pilot)
  • A Fine Romance (1983 CBS pilot)
  • Never Again (1984 NBC pilot)
  • The Stiller and Meara Show (1986 pilot)
  • Starting Now (1989 CBS pilot)

Later years and death

Cooper retired in 1996; his final screen credit as director was a January 1997 episode of Something So Right. He died of heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills on April 11, 2014. He was 91.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Hal Cooper, TV Comedy Director, Dies at 91". Variety. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
  2. Newspapers.com
    .
  3. ^ "PASSINGS: Phillip Hayes Dean, Cheo Feliciano, Hal Cooper". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-09-17.

External links

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