Howard W. Koch
Koch in 1966
Born
Howard Winchel Koch

(1916-04-11)April 11, 1916
DiedFebruary 16, 2001(2001-02-16) (aged 84)
SpouseRuth Pincus Koch[1] (1937-2001)
Children2 children including Hawk Koch

Howard Winchel Koch (April 11, 1916 – February 16, 2001) was an American director and producer of film and television.

Life and career

Born to a Jewish family[2] in in New York City, he attended DeWitt Clinton High School and the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey.[3] He began his film career as an employee at Universal Studios office in New York then made his Hollywood filmmaking debut in 1947 as an assistant director. He worked as a producer for the first time in 1953 and a year later made his directing debut. In 1964, Paramount Pictures appointed him head of film production, a position he held until 1966 when he left to set up his own production company.

Among his numerous television productions, Howard W. Koch produced the Academy Awards show on eight occasions. Dedicated to the industry, he served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1977 to 1979. In 1990 the Academy honored him with The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and in 1991 he received the Frank Capra Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America.

Together with actor Telly Savalas, Howard Koch owned Telly's Pop, winner of several important California races for juveniles including the Norfolk Stakes and Del Mar Futurity.

Howard W. Koch suffered from Alzheimer's disease and died in Los Angeles in 2001. He had two children from a marriage of 64 years to Ruth Pincus.[4] In 2004, his son Hawk Koch was elected to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences's Board of Governors.

Filmography

Director

Film (director)

Television (director)

Producer

Film (producer):

Television (producer)

References

  1. ^ http://www.filmreference.com/film/46/Howard-W-Koch-Jr.html
  2. ^ Los Angeles Times: "How did new Academy president Hawk Koch get his unusual name?" By Nicole Sperling and Julie Makinen August 01, 2012
  3. ^ Howard W. Koch Collection at the Wayback Machine (archived December 3, 2007), Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 3, 2007. Accessed February 27, 2011. "Howard W. Koch (1916-2001) was born in New York City. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School in New York and Peddie Preparatory School in Hightstown, New Jersey."
  4. ^ Los Angeles Times: "Ruth Koch" March 4, 2009
Non-profit organization positions Preceded byWalter Mirisch President of Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences 1977-1979 Succeeded byFay Kanin