Harry Ackerman

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Harry Ackerman

Harry Ackerman

Photo credit: 
Television Academy Archives

Harry Ackerman

Date of Birth: November 17, 1912
Date of Passing: February 03, 1991
Birthplace: Albany, New York
Obituary: Los Angeles Times

Harry Ackerman was an American television producer.

Ackerman was born in Albany, New York and educated at Dartmouth College. He began his career as an advertising executive at Young & Rubicam.

As a CBS vice president in Hollywood in the 1950s, he helped create, oversaw the development and approved the casting of Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, The Jack Benny Show, Burns and Allen, Amos ‘n’ Andy, Our Miss Brooks, The Edgar Bergen Show, and many more.

Harry Ackerman was an American television producer.

Ackerman was born in Albany, New York and educated at Dartmouth College. He began his career as an advertising executive at Young & Rubicam.

As a CBS vice president in Hollywood in the 1950s, he helped create, oversaw the development and approved the casting of Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, The Jack Benny Show, Burns and Allen, Amos ‘n’ Andy, Our Miss Brooks, The Edgar Bergen Show, and many more.

After a stint with his own production company, he joined Screen Gems, now Columbia Pictures Television, where he worked from 1958 to 1977 as executive producer for Dennis the Menace, The Donna Reed Show, Hazel, Gidget, Bewitched, and The Flying Nun.

Ackerman served as president of the Television Academy.

Ackerman died February 3, 1991, in Burbank, California. He was 78.

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Emmy Winners 1954
Classic Emmys—Harry Ackerman, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance
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Harry Ackerman

Emmy Winners 1954
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Winner for Best Comedy Show for I Love Lucy, (fourth from left) CBS Program Chief Harry Ackerman, actress Vivian Vance with her award for Best Supporting Actress, Dr. Frank Baxter with two LA Area Emmy Awards for Shakespeare on TV, actors Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with their awards, and Mike Stokey with his award for the L.A. Area Show Juke Box Jury, at the Hollywood Palladium on February 21, 1954.

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Classic Emmys—Harry Ackerman, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance
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TVA/PictureGroup via AP IMAGES
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