Bill Finnegan facts for kids

William Robinson Finnegan (born June 29, 1928 – died November 28, 2008) was an American television and film producer. He helped create many popular movies and TV shows. Some of his most famous works include The Fabulous Baker Boys, Hawaii Five-O, and Reality Bites. He was nominated for an Emmy Award five times, which is a big honor in television.

Bill Finnegan's Early Life

Bill Finnegan was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 29, 1928. When he was young, he joined the United States Navy. He served his country during World War II. After the war, Finnegan started his career in 1950. He worked as a journalist, writing for news organizations like the Associated Press.

Making Movies and TV Shows

After working as a journalist, Finnegan moved into the television world. He started as an assistant director and production manager. A production manager helps organize everything needed to make a show or movie.

Finnegan later started his own company called Finnegan-Pinchuk. He created it with his wife, Patricia Finnegan, and their business partner, Sheldon Pinchuk. Their company was based in Studio City, California. By the late 1970s and 1980s, they were making many movies for TV networks and cable channels.

Finnegan-Pinchuk produced many well-known TV movies. These included Summer of Fear (1978) and The Ordeal of Patty Hearst (1979). They also made The Dollmaker (1984) starring Jane Fonda. Other notable TV films were Amos (1985) with Kirk Douglas and The Atlanta Child Murders (1985) featuring Morgan Freeman.

Besides TV movies, Finnegan also produced popular television series. He worked on Hawaii Five-O in 1977. He also produced The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1987). One of his most famous TV shows was the Emmy-winning Northern Exposure, which ran from 1990 to 1995.

Finnegan and his company also helped create several feature films for the big screen. These included Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971) and North Shore (1987). He produced The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), a popular movie. Other films were White Palace (1990) and The Babe (1992). He also worked on Reality Bites (1994), starring Ben Stiller, and Ed (1996) with Matt LeBlanc. Bill Finnegan stopped working in production in 2003.

Bill Finnegan's Passing

Bill Finnegan passed away on November 28, 2008. He was 80 years old. He died at his home in Sag Harbor, New York, from Parkinson's disease. He and his wife, Patricia Finnegan, had four children. His son, Michael Finnegan, is a political reporter. Another son, William Finnegan, is a writer for The New Yorker magazine. His daughter, Colleen, became a doctor, and his son, Kevin, became a lawyer.