Leonard Goldberg facts for kids

Leonard J. Goldberg (born January 24, 1934 – died December 4, 2019) was a very successful American film and television producer. He helped create many popular TV shows and movies. He even led big companies like ABC and 20th Century Fox. Later in his career, he was an executive producer for the TV series Blue Bloods.

Early Life and School

Leonard Goldberg was born in New York City on January 24, 1934. He grew up in a Jewish family. He went to New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn. After high school, he studied economics at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his degree in 1955.

Amazing Career in Entertainment

Leonard Goldberg had a huge impact on television and movies. He was known for producing many hit shows and films.

Producing Hit TV Shows

Goldberg worked with another famous producer, Aaron Spelling. Together, they created some of the most well-known TV series of their time. These included Charlie's Angels, Hart to Hart, Starsky & Hutch, Fantasy Island, and Family. He also produced important TV movies. One was Brian's Song (1971), which won a Peabody Award. Another was The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976), which helped start John Travolta's acting career.

In 1984, he produced Something About Amelia. This TV movie won an Emmy Award. It was watched by a huge audience, showing how powerful television could be.

Making Popular Movies

Goldberg also produced many successful movies. He was the executive producer for the Oscar-nominated film WarGames (1983). He also produced the comedy The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977).

Later, he became the president of 20th Century Fox from 1987 to 1989. During this time, the studio released many famous movies. Some of these were Broadcast News, Big, Die Hard, Wall Street, and Working Girl.

After leaving Fox, he continued to produce movies under his own company. These included Sleeping with the Enemy, Double Jeopardy, and the Charlie's Angels film series. He also produced Unknown in 2011, starring Liam Neeson.

Awards and Recognition

Leonard Goldberg's work earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard. In 2007, he was honored by being added to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. He also served on the CBS Board of Directors for many years.

Personal Life and Passing

In 1972, Leonard Goldberg married Wendy Howard. They had one daughter named Amanda Erin Goldberg. He also had two stepsons, Richard Mirisch and John A. Mirisch.

Leonard Goldberg passed away on December 4, 2019, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 85 years old. His death was due to injuries from a fall.

Film and TV Work

Here are some of the films and TV shows Leonard Goldberg produced.

Films

Television Shows