Irv Wilson, a former programming govt at NBC and producer of a number of excessive profile TV films that starred Jerry Lewis, Martin Sheen, Telly Savalas, Bruce Dern and Morgan Freeman, died December 26 after a brief sickness. He was 93.
His dying was confirmed by his longtime good friend, Tom Nunan, who paid tribute to Wilson on Fb by writing, “Wilson liked life, and anybody who turned near him knew {that a} good glass of crimson wine, slightly weed, [his wife’s] cooking, and a Giants sport got here fairly near heaven for the well-loved, culturally advanced maven.”
Born in New York Metropolis, Wilson served within the Korean conflict earlier than returning to the Large Apple to attend NYU through the G.I. Invoice. He would go on to spend his profession within the leisure business, first as a expertise agent and producer, then as a TV programming govt for NBC the place he oversaw the TV film division and later, daytime and late night time programming. He labored alongside Fred Silverman and Brandon Tartikoff and helped to find future filmmakers similar to Ron Howard whereas supporting gifted playwrights like Stanley Greenberg.
After his community govt life, Wilson returned to producing work underneath offers at Fries Leisure and Viacom, the place he made a number of excessive profile TV films.
He could also be greatest identified for govt producing The Missiles of October, an ABC made-for-TV play from 1974 concerning the Cuban Missile Disaster that starred William Devane as President John F. Kennedy and Martin Sheen as Lawyer Common Robert F. Kennedy. Nunan says his good friend was additionally pleased with his 1980 TV film FDR: The Final 12 months for NBC that starred Jason Robards.
Wilson was a lifelong Giants fan, even after their transfer to San Francisco. He was additionally a information and data junkie and appreciated to spend a lot of his retirement debating politics.
“He might be missed by many, however remembered by all who met him as merely an exquisite man, a real character who all the time managed to get you to choose up lunch,” Nunan mentioned on Fb. “As he’d put it himself, he was King of the ‘Schnorrers.’ Look it up. It’s Yiddish, the language of giants.”
Wilson is survived by Anne Carlucci, his spouse of 46 years who was additionally a prolific TV film producer; and his daughters Amy, Julie, and Kate.
