Marco Zappia obit

Emmy-Winning Editor Marco Zappia Dies at 76

The longtime industry veteran worked on shows from "Hee Haw" to "Home Improvement" in a career that spanned more than 40 years. 

He was not on the list.

Marco Zappia, a longtime TV editor, died Dec. 22 in Ventura, Calif. He was 76.

During a career that started in 1968 and spanned more than 40 years, Zappia edited hundreds of episodes of television. Among the shows he had longstanding relationships with were All in the Family (95 episodes edited), Archie Bunker’s Place (97 episodes), Who’s the Boss (188 episodes), Home Improvement (203 episodes) and Eight Simple Rules (75 episodes).

He was nominated for 18 Emmys — winning twice — and two CableACE awards. His first Emmy came in 1971 for Hee Haw and was CBS’ first win in that category. His second Emmy was for the 1980 special Christmas in the Holy Land.

Zappia helped pioneer numerous technical advances in his field, including aiding in the research and development of the multicam Avid Editing System. He was the first editor to use Avid to edit a multicam sitcom for an episode of Home Improvement.

Zappia was a longtime member of the Directors Guild of America, the Motion Picture Editors Guild and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

He started his career as a TV repairman before landing an engineering job at CBS in 1968 and soon moved over to editing. He detailed how he made the transition in his 2013 memoir, Smartest Guy in the Room. His wife saw a newspaper ad for a job in the video engineering department at CBS and encouraged him to apply. So he studied up on the technology at night — he knew little about it — and managed to get the job. Before becoming an editor, he helped install the first electronic editing system at the network.

Zappia was born in Los Angeles on Nov. 29, 1937, to Rocco and Anna Zappia, who were Italian immigrants. He graduated from Hollywood High School and married Carole Ann Lo Presto on April 15, 1961.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, two children and six grandchildren.

There will be no funeral or memorial services. Condolences may be sent to Carole Ann Zappia at 2771 Bayshore Ave., Unit A, Ventura, CA 93001.

 

Editor

Buddies

Editor

ReleasedTV Series

1996

1 episode

 

James Garner, Katey Sagal, David Spade, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, and Martin Spanjers in 8 Simple Rules (2002)

8 Simple Rules

7.0

TV Series

Editor

2002–2005

76 episodes

 

Gregory Hines, Connie Britton, Gavin Fink, Mitch Rouse, Stark Sands, and Leah Pipes in Lost at Home (2003)

Lost at Home

5.2

TV Series

Editor

2003

2 episodes

 

Damon Wayans, Tisha Campbell, Jazz Raycole, George Gore II, Parker McKenna Posey, and Christine Dollman in My Wife and Kids (2000)

My Wife and Kids

6.9

TV Series

Editor

2001–2002

19 episodes

 

Brooke Shields, Judd Nelson, Eric Idle, Nestor Carbonell, Kathy Griffin, Barbara Barrie, Currie Graham, and Sherri Shepherd in Suddenly Susan (1996)

Suddenly Susan

5.8

TV Series

Editor

1999–2000

22 episodes

 

Bette Midler, James Dreyfus, Kevin Dunn, Joanna Gleason, and Lindsay Lohan in Bette (2000)

Bette

6.4

TV Series

Editor

2000

1 episode

 

Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong in Boy Meets World (1993)

Boy Meets World

8.1

TV Series

Editor

1993–2000

31 episodes

 

Tim Allen in Home Improvement: Backstage Pass (1999)

Home Improvement: Backstage Pass

7.5

TV Movie

Editor

1999

 

Tim Allen, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Patricia Richardson, Zachery Ty Bryan, Earl Hindman, and Taran Noah Smith in Home Improvement (1991)

Home Improvement

7.2

TV Series

Editor

1991–1999

203 episodes

 

Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane (1999)

Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane

6.7

TV Series

Editor

1999

2 episodes

 

Costello (1998)

Costello

4.0

TV Series

Editor

1998

8 episodes

 

Dan Aykroyd, Brendon Ryan Barrett, Spencer Breslin, Courtney Chase, Michael Finiguerra, Dakin Matthews, and Kevin Sheridan in Soul Man (1997)

Soul Man

6.2

TV Series

Editor

1997

1 episode

 

John Ales, Harley Jane Kozak, Nathan Lawrence, and Alex McKenna in You Wish (1997)

You Wish

7.1

TV Series

Editor

1997

2 episodes

 

Christopher Daniel Barnes, Eddie Griffin, Ron Pearson, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Karen Malina White in Malcolm & Eddie (1996)

Malcolm & Eddie

6.6

TV Series

Editor

1996–1997

16 episodes

 

Tahj Mowry, Essence Atkins, Omar Gooding, John Marshall Jones, and Jason Weaver in Smart Guy (1997)

Smart Guy

7.4

TV Series

Editor

1997

7 episodes

 

Tim Conlon in Lost on Earth (1997)

Lost on Earth

7.9

TV Series

Editor

1997

1 episode

 

Maybe This Time (1995)

Maybe This Time

6.6

TV Series

Editor

1995–1996

18 episodes

 

The Jeff Foxworthy Show (1995)

The Jeff Foxworthy Show

5.6

TV Series

Editor

1995

1 episode

 

Misery Loves Company

5.9

TV Series

Editor

1995

8 episodes

 

Thunder Alley (1994)

Thunder Alley

6.3

TV Series

Editor

1994

 

Where I Live (1993)

Where I Live

7.8

TV Series

Editor

1993

17 episodes

 

Sinbad in The Sinbad Show (1993)

The Sinbad Show

6.2

TV Series

Editor

1993

1 episode

 

Brittany Murphy in Almost Home (1993)

Almost Home

7.6

TV Series

Editor

1993

13 episodes

 

The Torkelsons (1991)

The Torkelsons

7.9

TV Series

Editor

1991–1992

19 episodes

 

Sunday Dinner

5.5

TV Series

Editor

1991

2 episodes

 

Dinosaurs (1991)

Dinosaurs

7.5

TV Series

Editor

1991

2 episodes

 

Carol & Company (1990)

Carol & Company

7.4

TV Series

Editor

1990–1991

12 episodes

 

The Steven Banks Show (1991)

The Steven Banks Show

9.3

TV Movie

Editor

1991

 

Bess Armstrong, Ray Aranha, Megan Gallivan, Barbara Montgomery, Jay Thomas, and Chris Young in Married People (1990)

Married People

7.5

TV Series

Editor

1990

1 episode

 

Partners in Life

4.3

TV Movie

Editor

1990

 

Mulberry Street

TV Movie

Editor

1990

 

Hurricane Sam

7.5

TV Movie

Editor

1990

 

Singer & Sons

6.9

TV Series

Editor

1990

2 episodes

 

Jared Rushton in ...Where's Rodney? (1990)

...Where's Rodney?

5.2

TV Movie

videotape editor

1990

 

Alyssa Milano, Tony Danza, Katherine Helmond, Danny Pintauro, and Judith Light in Who's the Boss? (1984)

Who's the Boss?

6.6

TV Series

Editor

1984–1990

121 episodes

 

Paul Reiser, Greg Evigan, and Staci Keanan in My Two Dads (1987)

My Two Dads

6.2

TV Series

Editor

1987–1990

60 episodes

 

Lynn Redgrave and Jackie Mason in Chicken Soup (1989)

Chicken Soup

5.5

TV Series

Editor

1989

1 episode

 

Vietnam War Story (1987)

Vietnam War Story

7.5

TV Series

Editor

1988

3 episodes

 

Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz (1988)

Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz

4.6

TV Special

Editor

1988

 

Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)

Faerie Tale Theatre

8.3

TV Series

Editor

1985–1987

4 episodes

 

Dom DeLuise, Angela Aames, Charlie Callas, George Wallace, and Lauren Woodland in The Dom DeLuise Show (1987)

The Dom DeLuise Show

5.6

TV Series

Editor (1987)

1987

 

Dads

7.3

TV Series

Editor

1986–1987

9 episodes

 

Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985)

MacGyver

7.6

TV Series

Editor

1986

2 episodes

 

Comedy Factory (1985)

Comedy Factory

5.0

TV Series

Editor

1986

1 episode

 

Brian Benben, Jeffrey Tambor, Barbara Babcock, and Nan Martin in Mr. Sunshine (1986)

Mr. Sunshine

6.9

TV Series

Editor

1986

11 episodes

 

Tall Tales & Legends (1985)

Tall Tales & Legends

7.1

TV Series

Editor

1985

 

Goodbye Charlie

4.7

TV Movie

Editor (videotape)

1985

 

The Fifth International Guinness Book of World Records

TV Special

Editor (video tape)

1985

 

Kate & Allie (1984)

Kate & Allie

6.9

TV Series

Editor

1984

1 episode

 

It's Not Easy (1982)

It's Not Easy

5.2

TV Series

Editor

1983

10 episodes

 

Starfest: The Stars Salute Public Television

TV Special

Editor

1983

 

Jon-Erik Hexum in The Best of Everything (1983)

The Best of Everything

6.7

TV Special

Editor

1983

 

Monsters, Madmen & Machines: 80 Years of Science Fiction (1983)

Monsters, Madmen & Machines: 80 Years of Science Fiction

5.8

TV Movie

Editor

1983

 

Martin Balsam, Carroll O'Connor, Danielle Brisebois, and Jean Stapleton in Archie Bunker's Place (1979)

Archie Bunker's Place

6.3

TV Series

Editor

1981–1983

47 episodes

 

George Dzundza, Susan Tyrrell, and Sam Whipple in Open All Night (1981)

Open All Night

7.4

TV Series

Editor

1982

4 episodes

 

Gloria

4.6

TV Series

Editor

1982

1 episode

 

Henry Fonda: The Man and His Movies

8.9

TV Movie

Editor

1982

 

Mary Frann, Jennifer Holmes, Steven Kampmann, Bob Newhart, and Tom Poston in Newhart (1982)

Newhart

7.8

TV Series

Editor

1982

 

Gotta Dance, Gotta Sing

TV Special

Editor

1982

 

I Love Liberty

6.1

TV Special

Editor

1982

 

CBS Afternoon Playhouse (1978)

CBS Afternoon Playhouse

7.1

TV Series

video tape editor

1981

1 episode

 

Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, Paul Anka, Lily Tomlin, Liberace, Melanie Mayron, and Audrey Meadows in Lily: Sold Out (1981)

Lily: Sold Out

6.1

TV Special

Editor

1981

 

John Wayne: The Duke Lives on - A Tribute (1980)

John Wayne: The Duke Lives on - A Tribute

6.6

Video

Editor

1980

 

Perry Como in Perry Como's Christmas in the Holy Land (1980)

Perry Como's Christmas in the Holy Land

6.4

TV Special

Editor (video tape)

1980

 

From Cleveland

6.2

TV Movie

videotape editor

1980

 

AFI Life Achievement Award (1973)

AFI Life Achievement Award

5.7

TV Series

Editor

1980

1 episode

 

A Salute to Billie Holiday (1979)

A Salute to Billie Holiday

Editor

1979

 

Perry Como's Christmas in New Mexico

TV Special

Editor

1979

 

The Toni Tennille Show (1979)

The Toni Tennille Show

7.6

TV Series

Editor (1980)

1979

 

Rob Lowe, Eileen Brennan, Gwynne Gilford, Connie Ann Hearn, Lauri Hendler, and David Hollander in A New Kind of Family (1979)

A New Kind of Family

6.6

TV Series

video tape editor

1979

1 episode

 

Liberace: A Valentine Special

5.2

TV Special

Editor

1979

 

Christmas in New York tavern on the green hbo 1978

TV Special

video tape editor

1978

 

Husbands, Wives & Lovers (1978)

Husbands, Wives & Lovers

7.0

TV Series

Editor (video tape)

1978

1 episode

 

What's Happening!! (1976)

What's Happening!!

7.0

TV Series

Editor (video tape)

1978

1 episode

 

Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back (1977)

Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back

8.6

TV Special

Editor

1977

 

Superstunt

7.6

TV Special

Editor

1977

 

Sills and Burnett at the Met

8.8

TV Special

Editor

1976

 

Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)

All in the Family

8.4

TV Series

video tape editor

1971–1976

95 episodes

 

You're Just Like Your Father

TV Movie

videotape editor

1976

 

The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971)

The Sonny and Cher Show

6.9

TV Series

Editor

1976

 

David Frost Presents the Guinness Book of World Records

TV Special

Editor

1975

 

Clifton Davis, Ted Lange, Theresa Merritt, Lynne Moody, and Teddy Wilson in That's My Mama (1974)

That's My Mama

6.9

TV Series

video tape editor

1974–1975

7 episodes

 

Insight (1960)

Insight

7.6

TV Series

video tape editor

1968–1974

20 episodes

 

"Tony Orlando and Dawn" Show. Joyce Vincent, Tony Orlando, Thelma Hopkins

Tony Orlando and Dawn

6.5

TV Series

Editor

1974

 

Sonny Boy

4.3

TV Movie

Editor

1974

 

Bea Arthur in Maude (1972)

Maude

7.3

TV Series

video tape editor

1972–1973

17 episodes

 

Hee Haw (1969)

Hee Haw

7.0

TV Series

Editor

1969

 

Editorial Department

Dinosaurs (1991)

Dinosaurs

7.5

TV Series

supervising editor

1991–1994

4 episodes

 

The Torkelsons (1991)

The Torkelsons

7.9

TV Series

supervising editor

1992

1 episode

 

Anthony Edwards, Robert Carradine, Donald Gibb, Ted McGinley, Julia Montgomery, and Matt Salinger in Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

Revenge of the Nerds

4.1

TV Movie

editor: video tape

1991

 

John Goodman, Roseanne Barr, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman, Alicia Goranson, and Laurie Metcalf in Roseanne (1988)

Roseanne

7.0

TV Series

editorial supervisor

1988–1989

28 episodes

 

Dori Brenner, Brandon Call, Paul Eiding, Garette Ratliff Henson, Cork Hubbert, Caitlin O'Heaney, Judy Parfitt, Christopher Rich, and Paul Winfield in The Charmings (1987)

The Charmings

6.8

TV Series

videotape editor

1987

1 episode

 

Tall Tales & Legends (1985)

Tall Tales & Legends

7.1

TV Series

editor: videotape

1985–1986

8 episodes

 

Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)

Faerie Tale Theatre

8.3

TV Series

videotape editor

1983–1986

19 episodes

 

Popples (1986)

Popples

6.7

TV Movie

editor: videotape

1986

 

Martin Balsam, Carroll O'Connor, Danielle Brisebois, and Jean Stapleton in Archie Bunker's Place (1979)

Archie Bunker's Place

6.3

TV Series

videotape editor

editor: video tape

1982

2 episodes

 

Dean Martin in The Dean Martin Christmas Special (1980)

The Dean Martin Christmas Special

9.3

TV Special

video tape editor

1980

 

Lola! (1975)

Lola!

7.4

TV Series

video tape editor

1975

1 episode

 

Lily Tomlin in Lily (1973)

Lily

7.4

TV Special

editor: video tape

1973

 

Writer

Christmas Is Here Again (2007)

Christmas Is Here Again

5.1

Video

story

2007