Fred R. Krug obit

Fred R. Krug, Pioneer of Nature and Travel TV Shows, Dies at 94

His credits included ‘Animal World,’ ‘Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom’ and ‘The Magical World of Disney.’ 

He was not on the list.

Fred R. Krug, a producer, director and cinematographer who worked on such nature-focused TV programs as Animal World, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and The Magical World of Disney, has died. He was 94.

Krug died June 4 of natural causes at his home in Solvang, California, his daughter, Vivian Krug-Cotton, told The Hollywood Reporter.

A pioneer in wildlife TV documentaries and travel shows, the Swiss-born Krug dined with Picasso, worked with The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl and danced with the Nicholas brothers.

He also collaborated with the likes of Gypsy Rose Lee, Louis Armstrong, Cornel Wilde, Jayne Mansfield, Dana Andrews, Jean Simmons, Agnes Moorehead, Art Linkletter and Tippi Hedren.

Krug’s career took him to the jungles of Peru, Ecuador and Brazil; to India, Zululand, South Africa and the Serengeti in Kenya; to the high country of New Zealand; and to the mountains of Italy.

Friedrich Roy Krug was born on Aug. 30, 1929, in Bern, Switzerland. He purchased his first movie camera at age 10 on layaway in a photography shop and started making short films where he lived in Basel, Switzerland.

He became a photographer and writer for a local newspaper at 16, covered the entertainment and art scene in Europe and translated and wrote a German version of the Bram Stoker novel Dracula.

Krug came to Los Angeles and arranged a meeting with Peter Ballbusch, a fellow Swiss native who was working at MGM as a montage director. Ballbusch helped Krug get work in Hollywood.

After a stint in the U.S. Army, for whom he served in intelligence, ran a base radio station and booked celebrity entertainment, Krug returned to L.A. to resume his career in entertainment.

He served as the stage manager for Jack LaLanne’s fabled fitness program and was a cinematographer and film-videotape director at KCOP-TV in L.A.

Krug’s passion of animals, primarily large cats, led him to Bill Burrud Productions, where he worked on Animal World and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, early primetime shows about wildlife.

For The Magical World of Disney in the 1970s, he operated a camera and directed the installments “The Proud Bird From Shanghai,” “The Secret of Old Glory Mine” and “The Golden Dog.”

He contributed to such other TV projects as The American West, The World of Reptiles, The Great Apes, Adventures of the Wilderness Family and Mountain Family Robinson. And he was a camera operator on NBC’s CHiPs from 1978-80.

Krug was endorsed for membership into the DGA by Roy Disney and in 1987 served as a planner and picket captain of the guild’s only walkout, known as the “Five Minute Strike” for its brevity. He also was a member of the Producers Guild.

An avid private pilot, Krug was active in Rotary Clubs in Hollywood and, after his retirement, Santa Ynez.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include his wife of 68 years, Rosemary, and his son-in-law, Samuel.

 

Producer

New! Animal World

TV Series

producer

1983–1992

 

Adventures of the Wilderness Family 3 (1979)

Adventures of the Wilderness Family 3

6.3

executive producer

1979

 

The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.4

TV Series

line producer

field producer

1973–1977

3 episodes

 

Across the Great Divide (1976)

Across the Great Divide

6.4

associate producer (as Fred Krug)

1976

 

The Secret of Old Glory Mine

8.3

TV Movie

line producer

1976

 

Animal World

7.8

TV Series

producer

1969–1972

35 episodes

 

The World of Reptiles

TV Movie

producer

1971

 

The Challenging Sea

TV Series

producer

1970

1 episode

 

The Great Apes

TV Movie

producer

1970

 

World of the Sea

TV Series

producer

1970

 

World of Women

TV Series

producer

1969

13 episodes

 

Safari to Adventure

TV Series

producer

1969–1975

 

Population Explosion: The Human Bomb

TV Movie

producer

1968

 

American West (1968)

American West

TV Series

producer

1968

13 episodes

 

Ship of Fools World Premiere Party

TV Special

assistant producer

associate producer

1965

 

Director

New! Animal World

TV Series

Director

1983–1992

 

The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.4

TV Series

Director

1973–1977

3 episodes

 

The Secret of Old Glory Mine

8.3

TV Movie

Director

1976

 

Animal World

7.8

TV Series

Director

1969–1972

18 episodes

 

The Challenging Sea

TV Series

Director

1970

1 episode

 

World of the Sea

TV Series

Director

1970

 

Cinematographer

New! Animal World

TV Series

Cinematographer (as Fred Krug)

1992

1 episode

 

The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.4

TV Series

Cinematographer

1973–1976

2 episodes

 

Animal World

7.8

TV Series

Cinematographer

1969–1972

18 episodes

 

The Challenging Sea

TV Series

Cinematographer

1970

1 episode

 

World of the Sea

TV Series

Cinematographer

1970

 

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963)

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom

8.5

TV Series

Cinematographer (some episodes)

1963–1988