Alan Sacks obit

Alan Sacks Dies: ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ Co-Creator & Disney Channel Producer Was 81

 

He was not on the list.

Alan Sacks, known for co-creating Welcome Back, Kotter and producing several Disney Channel projects, has died. He was 81.

The producer’s wife, talent agent Annette van Duren, tells Deadline that Sacks died Tuesday morning in New York City after his mantle cell lymphoma took an “aggressive” turn in recent weeks.

“It was treated for him to dance at our daughter’s June wedding and walk her down the aisle,” she said. “After that, the chemotherapy stopped being effective. He started hospice last week. He died peacefully listening to Tibetan music for the final few days and nights at age 81.”

Actor Robert Rusler, who starred alongside Josh Brolin in the 1986 Sacks-written skateboarding romance Thrashin’, remembered the “writer, producer, teacher and connector of people” in a statement on Instagram.

Listing some of his standout credits, Rusler noted, “Where I got to know him from was working with him on the movie #Thrashin. Alan was the creator of the #DAGGERS and #theramplocals. He along with Paul Brown wrote the screenplay and lived the dagger life every day on set. Alan lived his life like a dagger every day since. He was an OG punk rocker.

“A great family man produced a successful podcast, managed bands, he was an innovator with heavy influences in the music business and scene, he was a teacher and mentor to many at Los Angeles community college he had a masters degree in television from Brooklyn College,” he continued. “Alan was a New Yorker through and through, but made Los Angeles his home and stomped Hollywood out with some of the best of us. Alan will be missed and remembered forever. DAGGERS 4 LIFE RIP Ol’ friend.”

Born December 9, 1942, Sacks co-created Welcome Back, Kotter with Gabe Kaplan in 1975. The sitcom ran for four seasons on ABC from 1975-1979.

Sacks also produced several films for Disney Channel including Smart House (1999), the Emmy-winning The Color of Friendship (2000), The Other Me (2000), You Wish! (2003), Pixel Perfect (2004), Camp Rock (2008) and Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience (2009).

Sacks wrote, directed and co-produced the Off-Broadway production Lenny Bruce (In His Own Words).

Sacks was a manager of the metal group Unlocking the Truth. He helped the group secure a six-album record deal with Sony Music worth upwards of $1.7 million.

 

Writer

Peter and the Acid King (2023)

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created by (creator)

2023

 

Gutsy Frog

6.8

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Writer

2013

 

Pixel Perfect (2004)

Pixel Perfect

5.6

TV Movie

story

2004

 

Riders in the Sky in Riders in the Sky (1991)

Riders in the Sky

7.6

TV Series

developed for television (creator)

1991

1 episode

 

Josh Brolin and Pamela Gidley in Thrashin' (1986)

Thrashin'

6.5

written by

1986

 

Du-beat-e-o (1984)

Du-beat-e-o

5.1

idea

narration written by

1984

 

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Welcome Back, Kotter

7.1

TV Series

characters

created by

creator ...

1975–1979

95 episodes

 

Producer

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6.1

executive producer

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Gutsy Frog

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executive producer

2013

 

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executive producer

2010

 

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producer

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Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream (2008)

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executive producer (2008)

2008

 

Demi Lovato, Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas in Camp Rock (2008)

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5.2

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executive producer

2008

 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Compassion as Source of Happiness

6.6

Video

producer

2007

 

Pixel Perfect (2004)

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5.6

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executive producer

2004

 

Lalaine and A.J. Trauth in You Wish! (2003)

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6.0

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executive producer

2003

 

Andrew Lawrence in The Other Me (2000)

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executive producer

2000

 

The Color of Friendship (2000)

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TV Movie

executive producer

2000

 

Katey Sagal, Kevin Kilner, Ryan Merriman, and Katie Volding in Smart House (1999)

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6.1

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executive producer

1999

 

ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)

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7.1

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producer

1996

1 episode

 

ABC Weekend Specials (1977)

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7.7

TV Series

producer

1995

1 episode

 

Elko: The Cowboy Gathering

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producer

1994

 

Riders in the Sky in Riders in the Sky (1991)

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7.6

TV Series

executive producer

1991

1 episode

 

Club Rhino

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producer

1990

 

Josh Brolin and Pamela Gidley in Thrashin' (1986)

Thrashin'

6.5

producer

1986

 

Du-beat-e-o (1984)

Du-beat-e-o

5.1

producer

1984

 

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5.3

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producer

1984

 

Murder Ink

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producer

1983

1 episode

 

Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story (1982)

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6.8

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supervising producer

1982

 

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supervising producer

1982

 

Twirl (1981)

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6.4

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supervising producer

1981

 

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7.0

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supervising producer

1981

 

A Cry for Love (1980)

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6.7

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producer

1980

 

Women at West Point (1979)

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producer

1979

 

Susan Bigelow, Louisa Flaningam, and Ellen Greene in The Rock Rainbow (1978)

The Rock Rainbow

TV Movie

producer

1978

 

Best Friends

TV Movie

producer

1977

 

Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)

Welcome Back, Kotter

7.1

TV Series

producer

1975–1976

22 episodes

 

Jack Albertson and Freddie Prinze in Chico and the Man (1974)

Chico and the Man

6.8

TV Series

producer

production executive

1974–1975

6 episodes

 

The Family Kovack (1974)

The Family Kovack

6.4

TV Movie

supervising producer

1974

 

Break Up

TV Movie

executive producer

1973

 

Additional Crew

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6.7

legal consulting: US

2018

 

Natalie Portman, Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender, and Rooney Mara in Song to Song (2017)

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5.6

production counsel: Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz

2017

 

Machsom (2013)

Machsom

7.9

Short

friend

2013

 

No Place on Earth (2012)

No Place on Earth

7.1

legal services: distribution and financing, Frankfurt Kurnit Klen & Selz

2012

 

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama (2009)

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama

6.2

legal services

2009

 

Honor Thy Father (1973)

Honor Thy Father

5.1

TV Movie

program developer

1973

 

Angie Dickinson and Roy Thinnes in The Norliss Tapes (1973)

The Norliss Tapes

6.3

TV Movie

program developer

1973

 

Go Ask Alice (1973)

Go Ask Alice

6.0

TV Movie

program developer

1973

 

Firehouse (1973)

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5.8

TV Movie

program developer

1973

 

A Great American Tragedy (1972)

A Great American Tragedy

6.2

TV Movie

program developer

1972

 

Heat of Anger (1972)

Heat of Anger

7.2

TV Movie

production associate

1972

 

Future Shock (1972)

Future Shock

5.9

Short

program development manager

1972

 

Second Chance (1972)

Second Chance

5.6

TV Movie

program developer

1972

 

Patty Duke in She Waits (1972)

She Waits

5.6

TV Movie

production developer

1972