Gary Smith, the Emmy-Award-winning producer behind numerous television specials and live events, died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 90.
Born in 1935, Smith studied scenic design at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) before beginning his career as an art director at CBS in 1956. He made the leap to producer while working on “The Judy Garland Show” in 1963 and, two years later, produced NBC’s “Hullabaloo” a variety series that showcased early performances from The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, The Who, Simon & Garfunkel and Sonny & Cher.
Smith’s influence on music television blossomed throughout the 1960s, as he produced the first television specials for Paul McCartney and Bette Midler and the final television performances of Elvis Presley and Bing Crosby. Other musical acts that he’d produce specials for included Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Neil Diamond, Tony Bennett, Dolly Parton, Sammy Davis Jr., Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé, Woody Allen, Ann-Margret and Burt Bacharach.
Beyond music, Smith produced theatrical specials as well as live television. He led the televised specials of “Baryshnikov on Broadway” and “Peter Pan,” Royal Command Performances for the Queen of England, and many television events starring Barbra Streisand. He also produced awards shows, including six Tony Award broadcasts, four Emmy telecasts, a People’s Choice Awards and the AFI Life Achievement Award tributes to Streisand and Tom Hanks.
Even when he wasn’t behind the camera, Smith produced spectacular events like the opening of EPCOT at Disney World, the 25th Anniversary of Disneyland, the 1986 celebration of the Statue of Liberty’s restoration, four Democratic National Conventions, the Inaugural Galas of Presidents Reagan and Clinton, and the Bicentennial of the Constitution celebration.
As an individual, Smith earned eight Primetime Emmy Awards in his career, and was nominated for over 30. His company, Smith-Hemion — which he started with director Dwight Hemion in the early-1960s — earned a groundbreaking 24 Emmys.
Smith is survived by his wife, Maxine, four sons, Jake, Zack, Doug and Sam, a daughter, Daisy, and five grandchildren, Spencer, Jasper, Sienna, Ryan and Charlotte.
Donations may be made to SHARE, Inc., which supports children in need.
