Leroy Robinson
Dr. Leroy Robinson was a producer, writer and director best known for his work on The Nancy Wilson Show, for which he won a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award in 1976. The NBC variety series featured Wilson, a popular jazz singer, and ran for one season from 1975 to ’76.
Robinson got his start in entertainment after moving to Los Angeles in 1960; he landed his first writing job at the start-up fashion publication Elegant Magazine. In the mid-1960s he transitioned into screenwriting and enrolled in a workshop created by Oscar winner Budd Schulberg (On the Waterfront). After working as an editorial contributor for the trade publication Soul Illustrated, Robinson was hired at ABC as a head writer for the television series Black Omnibus, hosted by James Earl Jones. The variety series lasted 12 episodes and featured prominent black musicians, comedians and other cultural figures.
After Omnibus, Robinson moved on to producing The Nancy Wilson Show, where he teamed with Wally Amos (who later achieved renown for his Famous Amos cookies). Robinson also briefly worked as a script doctor for the 1976 comedy Car Wash, starring Richard Pryor, though he did not receive an official credit for his work. At the end of his career in entertainment he collaborated with his writing partner Bernie Rollins on a series of documentaries and educational media.
Dr. Leroy Robinson was a producer, writer and director best known for his work on The Nancy Wilson Show, for which he won a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award in 1976. The NBC variety series featured Wilson, a popular jazz singer, and ran for one season from 1975 to ’76.
Robinson got his start in entertainment after moving to Los Angeles in 1960; he landed his first writing job at the start-up fashion publication Elegant Magazine. In the mid-1960s he transitioned into screenwriting and enrolled in a workshop created by Oscar winner Budd Schulberg (On the Waterfront). After working as an editorial contributor for the trade publication Soul Illustrated, Robinson was hired at ABC as a head writer for the television series Black Omnibus, hosted by James Earl Jones. The variety series lasted 12 episodes and featured prominent black musicians, comedians and other cultural figures.
After Omnibus, Robinson moved on to producing The Nancy Wilson Show, where he teamed with Wally Amos (who later achieved renown for his Famous Amos cookies). Robinson also briefly worked as a script doctor for the 1976 comedy Car Wash, starring Richard Pryor, though he did not receive an official credit for his work. At the end of his career in entertainment he collaborated with his writing partner Bernie Rollins on a series of documentaries and educational media.
Robinson served in the Air Force during the Korean War and trained as an electrical engineer after graduating from high school. He later received his master’s degree in humanities and history at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and earned his Ph.D. in media studies at Union Institute. After retiring from entertainment he returned to education, as a professor of media studies at Oxnard College, where he taught for eighteen years.
Robinson died on May 27, 2015, in Kapolei, Hawaii. He was 80.
The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more