Irv Wilson

Irv Wilson Dies; Prolific Producer In Golden Era Of TV Movies Was 93

 

He was not on the list.

Irv Wilson, a former programming executive at NBC and producer of several high profile TV movies that starred Jerry Lewis, Martin Sheen, Telly Savalas, Bruce Dern and Morgan Freeman, died December 26 after a short illness. He was 93.

His death was confirmed by his longtime friend, Tom Nunan, who paid tribute to Wilson on Facebook by writing, “Wilson loved life, and anyone who became close to him knew that a good glass of red wine, a little weed, [his wife’s] cooking, and a Giants game came pretty close to heaven for the well-loved, culturally complex maven.”

Born in New York City, Wilson served in the Korean war before returning to the Big Apple to attend NYU via the G.I. Bill. He would go on to spend his career in the entertainment industry, first as a talent agent and producer, then as a TV programming executive for NBC where he oversaw the TV movie department and later, daytime and late night programming. He worked alongside Fred Silverman and Brandon Tartikoff and helped to discover future filmmakers such as Ron Howard while supporting gifted playwrights like Stanley Greenberg.

After his network executive life, Wilson returned to producing work under deals at Fries Entertainment and Viacom, where he made several high profile TV movies.

He may be best known for executive producing The Missiles of October, an ABC made-for-TV play from 1974 about the Cuban Missile Crisis that starred William Devane as President John F. Kennedy and Martin Sheen as Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Nunan says his friend was also proud of his 1980 TV movie FDR: The Last Year for NBC that starred Jason Robards.

Wilson was a lifelong Giants fan, even after their move to San Francisco. He was also a news and information junkie and liked to spend much of his retirement debating politics.

“He will be missed by many, but remembered by all who met him as simply a wonderful guy, a true character who always managed to get you to pick up lunch,” Nunan said on Facebook. “As he’d put it himself, he was King of the ‘Schnorrers.’ Look it up. It’s Yiddish, the language of giants.”

In 1973, he served as executive producer of an unsold sitcom pilot for NBC called "Patsy". Pat Cooper starred as the manager of a small Italian restaurant who must deal with his oddball relatives.

Wilson is survived by Anne Carlucci, his wife of 46 years who was also a prolific TV movie producer; and his daughters Amy, Julie, and Kate.

 

Producer

Tina Yothers, Jackée Harry, Charles Robinson, and Edie McClurg in Crash Course (1988)

Crash Course

5.3

TV Movie

producer

1988

 

Fight for Life (1987)

Fight for Life

5.8

TV Movie

executive producer

1987

 

Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story (1986)

Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story

6.4

TV Movie

executive producer

1986

 

The Children of Times Square (1986)

The Children of Times Square

6.2

TV Movie

co-producer

1986

 

Into Thin Air (1985)

Into Thin Air

6.9

TV Movie

executive producer

1985

 

Adrienne Barbeau in Terror at London Bridge (1985)

Terror at London Bridge

4.9

TV Movie

executive producer

1985

 

Jason Patric, Bruce Dern, and Lee Remick in Toughlove (1985)

Toughlove

5.8

TV Movie

executive producer

1985

 

Honeyboy (1982)

Honeyboy

6.4

TV Movie

executive producer

1982

 

Sister, Sister (1982)

Sister, Sister

7.8

TV Movie

executive producer

1982

 

That Was the Year That Was - 1976

TV Movie

producer

1976

 

Telly Savalas in Kojak (1973)

Kojak

7.1

TV Series

producer

1975

1 episode

 

The Missiles of October (1974)

The Missiles of October

8.1

TV Movie

executive producer

1974

 

ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)

ABC Afterschool Specials

7.1

TV Series

executive producer

1974

1 episode

 

Starbuck in Rock Concert (1973)

Rock Concert

8.5

TV Series

executive producer for Viacom

1973

1 episode

 

Production Manager

James Spader in Starcrossed (1985)

Starcrossed

5.3

TV Movie

executive in charge of production

1985

 

Sins of the Father (1985)

Sins of the Father

6.1

TV Movie

executive in charge of production

1985