Ian Sander obit

Ian Sander, Prolific TV Producer Behind ‘Ghost Whisperer,’ Dies at 68

 

He was not on the list.

Ian Sander, the prolific TV producer who with his wife Kim Moses was the force behind such series as “Ghost Whisperer” and “Profiler,” died Tuesday at his home in Malibu. He was 68.

Sander and Moses have consistently fielded multiple pilots during the past few years. In the current development cycle the pair exec produced the ABC drama pilot “Spark,” which shot in Prague in March and early April. Sander also worked as a director.

Sander and Moses were early pioneers in harnessing online fan activity around television series to drive awareness and viewership for linear TV series. The pair developed a “Total Engagement Experience” campaign involving webisodes, viral videos, online gaming and what were then nascent social media platforms to support “Ghost Whisperer,” the CBS drama that starred Jennifer Love Hewitt as a woman who received messages from the dead. The drama ran from 2005 to 2010.

“We lost a great man today,” Hewitt wrote on Twitter. “Ian Sander taught me about producing, directing, friendship, laughter, love and family.”

The pair’s most recent series was the CBS drama “Reckless,” which aired in the summer of 2014. Other credits include NBC’s “Profiler” and “I’ll Fly Away,” Lifetime’s “For the People,” ABC’s “The Beast” and Fox’s “Snoops” and “Brimstone.” Sander and Moses also did promotional and branding work for major advertisers as well as other networks through their Slam Inc. production entity.

Sander was well-regarded by network execs as a consummate producer who was a tireless champion of his shows.

In the 1980s, Sander produced a number of TV movies, including “One Cooks, the Other Doesn’t,” “To Heal a Nation” and “When He’s Not a Stranger.”

In addition to Moses, Sander’s survivors include two sons, Aaron and Declan.

Industry executives were quick to share memories and praise for Sander’s work following the news of his death.

Ian Sander was one of the good guys. Peace to him.

— Masked Ghoulduler (@maskedscheduler) May 4, 2016

In utter shock. Ian Sander changed my life. He took a chance on me and trusted me with the lead… https://t.co/aiaEX5ktoK

— Anna Wood (@annawoodyall) May 4, 2016

Very, very sorry to hear the news of the passing of Ian Sander of Sander/Moses Productions. I had the privilege… https://t.co/Is4WwJrBKb

— Sharon Liggins (@SharonPRDiva) May 4, 2016

Sorry to hear Ian Sander has passed. Worked on his "I'll Fly Away" back when. A true gentleman, he led by example. https://t.co/NLDtMzSgy9

—    Ann Walker (@ann_walker) May 4, 2016

 

Producer

Gigi Lazzarato in This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous (2017)

This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous

6.5

executive producer

2017

 

Str and Subhasree Ganguly in Spark (2016)

Spark

4.8

TV Series

executive producer

2016

 

Runner

5.5

TV Movie

executive producer

2015

 

Tyler Ritter and Margot Luciarte in French Kiss (2015)

French Kiss

8.3

Short

executive producer

2015

 

Cam Gigandet and Anna Wood in Reckless (2014)

Reckless

7.0

TV Series

executive producer

2014

13 episodes

 

Psychic in Suburbia

TV Series

executive producer

2011

 

Ghost Whisperer (2005)

Ghost Whisperer

6.5

TV Series

executive producer

2005–2010

106 episodes

 

Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side (2007)

Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side

7.1

TV Series

executive producer

producer

2007–2010

8 episodes

 

Frankenstein (2004)

Frankenstein

4.5

TV Movie

co-executive producer

2004

 

Astronauts

7.4

TV Movie

executive producer

2002

 

For the People (2002)

For the People

5.8

TV Series

executive producer

2002–2003

 

Jason Gedrick, Frank Langella, Naveen Andrews, Wendy Crewson, April Grace, Harriet Sansom Harris, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Peter Riegert in The Beast (2001)

The Beast

7.0

TV Series

executive producer

2001

2 episodes

 

How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale (2000)

How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale

4.5

TV Movie

executive producer

2000

 

Ali: An American Hero (2000)

Ali: An American Hero

5.3

TV Movie

co-executive producer

2000

 

Robert Davi and Ally Walker in Profiler (1996)

Profiler

7.2

TV Series

executive producer

1996–1999

39 episodes

 

John Glover and Peter Horton in Brimstone (1998)

Brimstone

8.1

TV Series

executive producer

1998–1999

 

Chasing the Dragon (1996)

Chasing the Dragon

6.2

TV Movie

executive producer

1996

 

Madeline Kahn, Mary Tyler Moore, Gregory Harrison, Melina Kanakaredes, Kelli Williams, and Joe Morton in New York News (1995)

New York News

5.6

TV Series

executive producer

1995

2 episodes

 

Kansas (1995)

Kansas

6.6

TV Movie

executive producer

1995

 

Young at Heart

7.7

TV Movie

co-executive producer

1995

 

Arly Hanks (1993)

Arly Hanks

6.1

TV Movie

producer

1993

 

I'll Fly Away: Then and Now (1993)

I'll Fly Away: Then and Now

8.4

TV Movie

executive producer

1993

 

Lea Thompson and Mary Tyler Moore in Stolen Babies (1993)

Stolen Babies

6.2

TV Movie

executive producer

1993

 

Sam Waterston, John Aaron Bennett, Ashlee Levitch, Jeremy London, and Regina Taylor in I'll Fly Away (1991)

I'll Fly Away

8.6

TV Series

executive producer

producer

1992–1993

21 episodes

 

Sarah Jessica Parker, Debrah Farentino, James Wilder, George DiCenzo, Jane Kaczmarek, Kathleen Lloyd, Barry Miller, Joe Morton, and Jon Tenney in Equal Justice (1990)

Equal Justice

6.2

TV Series

producer

1991

13 episodes

 

Plymouth (1991)

Plymouth

5.5

TV Movie

producer

1991

 

When He's Not a Stranger (1989)

When He's Not a Stranger

6.2

TV Movie

producer

1989

 

Robert Firth in Mick and Frankie (1989)

Mick and Frankie

TV Movie

producer

1989

 

Dennis Quaid and Jessica Lange in Everybody's All-American (1988)

Everybody's All-American

6.2

producer

1988

 

To Heal a Nation (1988)

To Heal a Nation

7.5

TV Movie

co-producer

1988

 

Sharing Richard (1988)

Sharing Richard

6.0

TV Movie

supervising producer

1988

 

The Town Bully (1988)

The Town Bully

6.8

TV Movie

producer

1988

 

Dennis Quaid in D.O.A. (1988)

D.O.A.

6.1

producer (produced by)

1988

 

One Cooks, the Other Doesn't (1983)

One Cooks, the Other Doesn't

5.9

TV Movie

producer

1983

 

Director

Cam Gigandet and Anna Wood in Reckless (2014)

Reckless

7.0

TV Series

Director

2014

1 episode

 

Ghost Whisperer (2005)

Ghost Whisperer

6.5

TV Series

Director

2005–2010

16 episodes

 

Dominic Purcell in John Doe (2002)

John Doe

7.8

TV Series

Director

2003

1 episode

 

Jason Gedrick, Frank Langella, Naveen Andrews, Wendy Crewson, April Grace, Harriet Sansom Harris, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Peter Riegert in The Beast (2001)

The Beast

7.0

TV Series

Director

2001

1 episode

 

Gina Gershon, Danny Nucci, and Paula Jai Parker in Snoops (1999)

Snoops

6.7

TV Series

Director

1999

1 episode

 

Robert Davi and Ally Walker in Profiler (1996)

Profiler

7.2

TV Series

Director

1996–1998

4 episodes

 

Chasing the Dragon (1996)

Chasing the Dragon

6.2

TV Movie

Director

1996

 

Madeline Kahn, Mary Tyler Moore, Gregory Harrison, Melina Kanakaredes, Kelli Williams, and Joe Morton in New York News (1995)

New York News

5.6

TV Series

Director

1995

 

Under One Roof (1995)

Under One Roof

8.5

TV Series

Director

1995

1 episode

 

I'll Fly Away: Then and Now (1993)

I'll Fly Away: Then and Now

8.4

TV Movie

Director

1993

 

Sam Waterston, John Aaron Bennett, Ashlee Levitch, Jeremy London, and Regina Taylor in I'll Fly Away (1991)

I'll Fly Away

8.6

TV Series

Director

1991–1993

4 episodes

 

Actor

Noah Beery Jr. and James Garner in The Rockford Files (1974)

The Rockford Files

8.2

TV Series

Christian

1977

1 episode

 

This Is the Life (1952)

This Is the Life

6.7

TV Series

Drug Addict

Derek

1974–1976

2 episodes

 

Jack Palance and Lee Van Cleef in God's Gun (1976)

God's Gun

4.9

Red Clayton

1976

 

Kate Jackson, Georg Stanford Brown, Sam Melville, and Michael Ontkean in The Rookies (1972)

The Rookies

6.8

TV Series

Eric the Red

Eric, The Red

1972–1975

2 episodes

 

Robert Blake in Baretta (1975)

Baretta

6.7

TV Series

George

1975

1 episode

 

Shazam! (1974)

Shazam!

6.5

TV Series

Rudy

1974

1 episode

 

The Swinging Cheerleaders (1974)

The Swinging Cheerleaders

5.1

Ron

1974

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

Mervyn Jones

1974

2 episodes

 

James Daly in Medical Center (1969)

Medical Center

7.1

TV Series

Ziggy

Boy on Gurney

1970–1974

2 episodes

 

Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

6.9

TV Series

1974

1 episode

 

Egan

TV Movie

Cab driver

1973

 

Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole, and Clarence Williams III in Mod Squad (1968)

Mod Squad

6.9

TV Series

Eddie Peabody

1971

1 episode

 

Burt Reynolds and Norman Fell in Dan August (1970)

Dan August

7.2

TV Series

Clerk

1971

1 episode

 

Edy Williams, Phyllis Davis, Veronica Ericson, Erica Gavin, Haji, Marcia McBroom, Cynthia Myers, Angel Ray, Dolly Read, and Lavelle Roby in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

6.1

Boy in Tub

1970