Harry Thomason facts for kids

Harry Zell Thomason (born November 30, 1940) is an American film and television producer and director. He is well-known for creating popular TV shows like Designing Women. Harry Thomason and his wife, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, are close friends with former President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They played an important part in President Clinton's election campaigns.

Who is Harry Thomason?

Harry Z. Thomason was born in Hampton, Arkansas. He grew up as the son of a Southern Baptist deacon. Before becoming a famous director, he worked as a high school science teacher and football coach in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has a daughter named Stacy from his first marriage.

Starting a Production Company

In 1983, Harry Thomason married his second wife, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. Together, they started a company called Mozark Productions. This company created many successful television series. Some of their most famous shows include Designing Women, Hearts Afire, and Evening Shade. In 2007, they also began working on an HBO series called 12 Miles of Bad Road, which starred actress Lily Tomlin.

Working with the Clintons

Harry Thomason was a close friend of Bill Clinton. He helped with Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign by producing a film called The Man from Hope. This film shared positive stories about Bill Clinton's life and was shown at the 1992 Democratic National Convention. Thomason also helped the Clinton campaign with air travel and advised them on how to present themselves to the public.

After Bill Clinton became president, Harry Thomason continued to be involved. He was a co-chairman for the 1992 Presidential Inauguration Committee. He also offered advice during a challenging time for the White House. In 2004, Thomason produced a documentary film called The Hunting of the President. This film was based on a book and explored political efforts to challenge Bill and Hillary Clinton. For this film, Thomason was nominated for an award for best documentary screenplay.

Television Shows Harry Thomason Worked On

Harry Thomason has directed or produced many television shows. Here are some of them:

• Designing Women – director and executive producer
• Emeril – director and executive producer
• Evening Shade – director
• Hearts Afire – Writer, director, executive producer
• Lime Street – executive producer
• The Blue and the Gray – producer
• The Fall Guy – Writer
• Women of the House – director, producer, executive producer

Movies Harry Thomason Worked On

Harry Thomason has also worked on several motion pictures. Here are some of his film credits:

• A Shining Season – producer
• Encounter with the Unknown – writer, director
• Revenge of Bigfoot – director, producer
• So Sad About Gloria – director, producer
• The Day it Came to Earth – director, executive producer
• The Designing Women Reunion – director
• The Great Lester Boggs – director
• The Man from Hope – director
• To Find My Son – producer
• The Hunting of the President – producer
• The Last Ride – director, producer