Raymond Katz, Producer, 83

["Deathwatch Central" <cdw@slick.org>]

Friday March 24 5:38 AM ET

Producer Raymond Katz dead at 83
By Doug Galloway

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Raymond Katz, an Emmy award-winning TV, theatrical and
Broadway producer, died Thursday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following a
brief illness. He was 83.

Katz is perhaps best remembered for the management and production business
he and his partner Sandy Gallin ran for 15 years. Between 1970 and 1985 they
created and produced ``Donny and Marie'' TV series in addition to other
series and numerous specials, including specials featuring Mac Davis, Paul
Lynde, Dolly Parton, Cher and the Emmy winning special ``Sold Out,'' which
starred Lily Tomlin and the late Kate Smith.

In the early 1980s, they turned to TV films, which included ``The Miracle
Worker,'' ``Diary of Anne Frank,'' ``Choices of the Heart,'' ``Family
Secrets,'' ''Splendor in the Grass'' and ``Without Her Consent.''

They also produced ``Mussolini: The Untold Story'' for NBC and
``Stagecoach'' for CBS.

Born and reared in New York, Katz began his career as a stage manager at the
(then famous) Capital Theatre on Broadway. Following World War II service,
where he directed the NBC radio show ``Navy Hour,'' he returned to MGM's New
York radio station WHN, where he served as program director.

He subsequently helped create a radio syndication division for original
programming known as MGM Radio Attractions, which boasted such weekly series
as ``Maisie'' starring Ann Sothern and ``Woman of the Year'' headlining
Bette Davis.

In 1960, he resigned as co-director of the radio station to devote his full
time to the personal management business.

In 1988, Katz produced the feature ``I'm Gonna Git You Sucka'' for United
Artists and the following year produced ``The Debbie Allen Special.''

He also produced several Broadway shows including ``After the Miracle'' and
``Boys of Winter.''

In 1991, Katz joined with Herman Rush in establishing Katz-Rush
Entertainment, which produced 13 episodes of ``The New Original Amateur
Hour'' for the Family Channel. They also produced a pilot for NBC starring
Gerry Spence titled ``Injustice For All'' and ``Miss America: Behind the
Crown.''

Katz is survived by his wife, Barbara.

Services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Friday at Hillside Memorial Park.

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