Emmy-Winning Writer-Producer William Sackheim Dies at 84
Longtime writer-producer and two-time Emmy winner William Sackheim died December 1 in Beverly Hills of a degenerative brain disease. He was 84 years old.
A television fixture for five decades, Sackheim earned his Emmys as producer of a 1959 episode of The Alcoa/Goodyear Theater and as producer of the 1975 TV movie The Law.
Sackheim, who worked as a writer and producer on several series, also produced several made-for-TV movies, including A Clear and Present Danger (1970), starring Hal Holbrook; The Harness (1971), starring Lorne Greene; The Impatient Heart (1971), starring Carrie Snodgress; and The Neon Ceiling (1971), starring Gig Young and Lee Grant.
In addition, Sackheim helped to launch the careers of several prominent actors, writers, producers and directors. In the early 1960s he gave Sally Field a major break when he cast her as the star of the ABC series Gidget. A few years later, he and Field reunited to produce ABC’s The Flying Nun.
“Bill Sackheim was my first producer,” said Field, when reached for comment. “He was very much a father figure to me. He was kind and supportive and wonderful. Not that he didn't drive me crazy at times, but then, that's what father figures do. He was a big part of a very important time in my life. I know he will be missed.”
In the 1970s, Sackheim developed a similar relationship with actor Judd Hirsch. After casting Hirsch in his first TV movie, The Law, Sackheim chose Hirsch to star in the cop drama Delvecchio, which Sackheim executive produced.
Delvecchio also marked the beginning of a close bond between Sackheim and Steven Bochco, whom Sackheim hired as a writer-producer of the CBS series. Bochco describes Sackheim as an important writing mentor.
In a telephone interview, Bochco said, “I’ve never known anybody who was happier for the success of those that he mentored than Bill Sackheim was. He was a remarkable man, and an extremely important figure in my professional life, and ultimately my personal life as well. He knew so much about our craft, and about how to tell a story, and he shared his gifts with everybody. He was never about credit. He was just about getting it right. That’s all he cared about.”
John Badham, director of such feature films as Saturday Night Fever and War Games, was working in the casting department at Universal when Sackheim hired him as his personal assistant in 1968. Shortly afterward, Sackheim gave Badham his first directing assignment when he brought him aboard the NBC series The Bold Ones: The Senator, starring Hal Holbrook.
Sackheim even gave Steven Spielberg one of his earliest breaks. After seeing Spielberg’s early short film Amblin, Sackheim hired the young director to direct Hollywood legend Joan Crawford in one of the three segments included the pilot for the NBC series Night Gallery.
In addition to his television work, Sackheim enjoyed a prolific movie career. He co-produced the 1979 comedy The In-Laws, the 1990 drama Pacific Heights and the 1991 comedy The Hard Way, and co-wrote such films as the 1980 romantic drama The Competition, with Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving, and 1982’s First Blood, Sylvester Stallone’s first outing as one-man army John Rambo.
Sackheim, who was born in Gloversville, N.Y., moved to Beverly Hills with his family as a child. After graduating from Beverly Hills High School, he served in the Army during World War II, during which he was posted in New Guinea.
Sackheim, who was honored with a 1995 tribute by the Museum of Television & Radio in Los Angeles, began writing professionally while in the Army, as a freelance contributor to the for Batman comic-book series. Upon his discharge, he was hired in the music department at Republic Pictures and began his screenwriting career on various B movies at Columbia Pictures.
A memorial service for Sackheim was held on December 12. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, JoAnne; two sons, Daniel, a producer and Emmy-winning director, and Drew, a fashion photographer; and two grandchildren.