Ted Hartley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ted Hartley
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Ted Hartley in Chopper One, 1974.
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Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
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| Alma mater | U.S. Naval Academy Harvard Business School |
| Occupation | Fighter pilot, actor, businessman, film and stage producer |
| Years active | c. 1951–2015 |
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Ted Hartley is an American who had many interesting jobs. He was a U.S. Navy fighter pilot, an investment banker, and an actor. He also produced movies and stage shows. He was the CEO of RKO Pictures, a famous film company. Ted was married to Dina Merrill, who was an actress and helped many charities. She passed away in 2017. Ted stopped acting in 2012 and producing in 2015.
Contents
Early Life and Flying Dreams
Ted Hartley was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up on a farm in Iowa. When he was only five years old, his father passed away. This made things financially tough for his family.
When Ted was 14, he won a contest from Warner Bros.. He wrote a short essay about why he loved to fly. His prize was some flying lessons!
Ted went to Shattuck Military School in Minnesota. By the time he was 16, he was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy. After his flight training, he became a carrier-based fighter pilot. He flew F-11 jets after they were first used in 1956.
Ted's Exciting Career Path
From Pilot to Hollywood Star
As a Navy officer, Ted Hartley had many important roles. He worked with the Pentagon and even helped the President. He was also a brave fighter pilot who flew from aircraft carriers.
In 1964, his F9F8 fighter jet crashed during a landing. He was thrown from the plane and broke his back. Because of this injury, he had to retire from the Navy early.
After his military career, Ted went to Harvard Business School. He then worked in investment banking. He became a Vice President at a company called First Western Financial Corporation.
Next, Ted moved to Hollywood to become an actor. He played Reverend Jerry Bedford in the TV show Peyton Place in the 1960s. He also acted in movies with famous stars like Cary Grant, Robert Redford, and Clint Eastwood. In the late 1970s, he was in the TV series Chopper One, which was about police officers who flew helicopters. This show didn't last long.
After Chopper One, Ted moved to Aspen, Colorado. He volunteered as a director at a local theater. Then, he started working full-time in commodity trading.
Leading RKO Pictures
In 1987, Ted got involved with a company called Pavilion Communications Inc. This company bought smaller entertainment businesses. Through this, Ted found a chance to take over RKO Pictures.
In 1991, Ted and his wife Dina Merrill bought more than half of RKO Pictures. They combined Pavilion Communications with RKO Pictures Corporation. This created RKO Pictures, LLC.
Their first big movie project was a new version of Mighty Joe Young in 1998. As the head of RKO Pictures, Ted helped create many movies and TV shows. He also expanded the RKO name to stage shows and other entertainment.
He produced several movies, including:
- Mighty Joe Young (1998) with Disney
- Ritual (2000) with Miramax
- A new version of The Magnificent Ambersons (2002)
- Shade (2003)
For RKO Stage, he produced many musicals that played on Broadway:
- Never Gonna Dance (2003)
- Curtains (2007)
- Gypsy (2008)
- 13 (2008)
He also produced Top Hat (2012) in the West End in London. This musical won a big award in 2013, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
Other Interests and Activities
In 2013, Ted Hartley became the chairman of the board for Orbis International. This is a non-profit group that helps save people's eyesight around the world. He had been involved with them since 2010.
Ted is also a member of many groups for movies and TV. He is on the board of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute. He also helps lead the Harvard Business School Association of Southern California. Besides all this, Ted is also a painter!
Movies Ted Hartley Produced
- Barely Lethal
- A Late Quartet
- Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
- Are We Done Yet?
- Laura Smiles
- Shade
- The Gin Game (executive producer)
- The Magnificent Ambersons (executive producer)
- Ritual
- Mighty Joe Young
- Milk & Money
- False Identity (executive producer)
Stage Shows Ted Hartley Produced
- Never Gonna Dance - 2003 Broadway musical
- Curtains - 2007 Broadway musical
- Gypsy - 2008 Broadway musical (with Patti Lupone)
- 13 - 2008 Broadway musical
- Top Hat - 2012 West End Musical
Movies Ted Hartley Acted In
- Walk, Don't Run (1966) - Yuri Andreyovitch
- Murderers' Row (1966) - Guard
- Barefoot in the Park (1967) - Frank
- Ice Station Zebra (1968) - Lieutenant Jonathan Hansen
- The Man (1972) - Press Secretary
- High Plains Drifter (1973) - Lewis Belding
- Aloha, Bobby and Rose (1975) - Cop
- Moving Violation (1976) - Prosecutor
- Matilda (1978) - Payne Smith
- Caddyshack II (1988) - Club Member
- False Identity (1990) - Inn Keeper
- The Player (1992) - Party Guest (uncredited)
- Milk & Money (1996) - Lingerie Salesman
- Shade (2003) - 'Teddy' The Surgeon
- Laura Smiles (2005) - Therapist
- Race to Witch Mountain (2009) - Four-Star General V. Lewton
- A Late Quartet (2012) - Winning Bidder
