Robert Richter obit

Robert Richter, Documentary Filmmaker, Dies at 95

 

He was not on the list.

Robert Richter, an independent filmmaker and producer whose credits include nearly 90 documentaries on a wide range of subjects, died at his home in New York City on February 16 following complications associated with heart failure. He was 95.

A three-time Academy Award nominee for best documentary short, Richter’s expanse of accolades included a 2008 National Emmy for “exceptional merit in nonfiction filmmaking” as executive producer on the HBO version of his documentary feature “The Last Atomic Bomb,” and three duPont Columbia Broadcast Journalism awards (TV’s Pulitzer Prize). Richter was the only independent producer to receive the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global 500 Award.

Born and raised in New York City, Richter’s decades-long career in filmmaking began at Occidental College in California with an experimental Telluride Association program, followed by a B.A. from Reed College in Oregon and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop.

While studying on a CBS Foundation Scholarship for a Public Law and Government M.A. at Coumbia, Richter joined the Edward R. Murrow-Fred Friendly documentary team and produced primetime documentaries and news features alongside Walter Cronkite.

Richter left CBS in 1968 to pursue independent filmmaking under his company Richter Productions, Inc., where he made over 50 documentaries for primetime television. Richter produced documentaries for ABC with Peter Jennings as correspondent, for NBC with Phil Donahue, for PBS “Nova” and for other independent PBS programs.

In addition to producing and filmmaking, Richter led the committee that launched what developed into the nation’s largest funder of documentaries by independent producers: the Independent Television Service (ITVS). He spent a decade as volunteer president of the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, and seven years on the International Documentary Association board as their New York representative. He was also founding chair of the Salem chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, served on the national ACLU media committee, a board member of CARE, USA, and a Reed College Board of Trustees member.

His memoir “Documentaries and Serendipity” was published in 2022. Richter is survived by his wife of 43 years, Elizabeth (Libby) Bassett; four daughters Roxanne, Allison, Rowena and Isabella, and three grandchildren Sophia, Samuel and Cyres.

Director

The Ultimate Wish: Ending the Nuclear Age

Short

Director

2012

 

Leaving Home

Director

2011

 

Come Out Shining!

Video

Director

2008

 

The Last Atomic Bomb (2006)

The Last Atomic Bomb

Director

2006

 

Eating the Scorpion (2005)

Eating the Scorpion

Director

2005

 

Convictions: Prisoners of Conscience (2004)

Convictions: Prisoners of Conscience

Short

Director

2004

 

SOA: Guns and Greed (2001)

SOA: Guns and Greed

Short

Director

2001

 

Five Days to Change the World (2001)

Five Days to Change the World

Director

2001

 

Crossing the Line (1999)

Crossing the Line

Video

Director

1999

 

Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins (1996)

Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins

6.5

Director

1996

 

Ben Spock, Baby Doctor (1996)

Ben Spock, Baby Doctor

Video

Director

1996

 

Outer Space: Can We Afford to Go?

TV Movie

Director

1994

 

School of the Americas Assassins (1994)

School of the Americas Assassins

6.5

Short

Director

1994

 

The Money Lenders (1991)

The Money Lenders

TV Movie

Director

1991

 

Can Tropical Rainforests Be Saved? (1991)

Can Tropical Rainforests Be Saved?

TV Movie

Director

1991

 

Who Shot President Kennedy? (1988)

Who Shot President Kennedy?

8.4

Director

1988

 

Increase and Multiply?

TV Movie

Director

1987

 

Do Not Enter: The Visa War Against Ideas (1986)

Do Not Enter: The Visa War Against Ideas

Director

1986

 

Hungry for Profit (1985)

Hungry for Profit

Director

1985

 

In Our Hands (1983)

In Our Hands

6.3

Director (uncredited)

1983

 

Asbestos Alert

Short

Director

1982

 

Gods of Metal (1982)

Gods of Metal

7.6

Short

Director

1982

 

What Price Clean Air? (1981)

What Price Clean Air?

Director

1981

 

For Export Only: Pharmaceuticals (1981)

For Export Only: Pharmaceuticals

TV Movie

Director

1981

 

For Export Only: Pesticides (1981)

For Export Only: Pesticides

TV Movie

Director

1981

 

A Plague on Our Children (1979)

A Plague on Our Children

Director

1979

 

Vietnam: An American Journey (1979)

Vietnam: An American Journey

Director

1979

 

Incident at Browns Ferry (1977)

Incident at Browns Ferry

Director

1977

 

Linus Pauling, Crusading Scientist (1977)

Linus Pauling, Crusading Scientist

Director

1977

 

CBS Reports (1959)

CBS Reports

7.2

TV Series

Director

1965

1 episode

 

Writer

The Last Atomic Bomb (2006)

The Last Atomic Bomb

written by

2006

 

Eating the Scorpion (2005)

Eating the Scorpion

written by

2005

 

Convictions: Prisoners of Conscience (2004)

Convictions: Prisoners of Conscience

Short

written by

2004

 

SOA: Guns and Greed (2001)

SOA: Guns and Greed

Short

written by

2001

 

Five Days to Change the World (2001)

Five Days to Change the World

Writer

2001

 

Crossing the Line (1999)

Crossing the Line

Video

written by

1999

 

Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins (1996)

Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins

6.5

Writer

1996

 

Ben Spock, Baby Doctor (1996)

Ben Spock, Baby Doctor

Video

written by

1996

 

School of the Americas Assassins (1994)

School of the Americas Assassins

6.5

Short

written by

1994

 

The Money Lenders (1991)

The Money Lenders

TV Movie

written by

1991

 

Can Tropical Rainforests Be Saved? (1991)

Can Tropical Rainforests Be Saved?

TV Movie

written by

1991

 

Who Shot President Kennedy? (1988)

Who Shot President Kennedy?

8.4

written by

1988

 

Increase and Multiply?

TV Movie

written by

1987

 

Do Not Enter: The Visa War Against Ideas (1986)

Do Not Enter: The Visa War Against Ideas

written by

1986

 

Hungry for Profit (1985)

Hungry for Profit

written by

1985

 

The Business of Hunger

Short

writer

1984

 

Asbestos Alert

Short

written by

1982

 

What Price Clean Air? (1981)

What Price Clean Air?

written by

1981

 

For Export Only: Pharmaceuticals (1981)

For Export Only: Pharmaceuticals

TV Movie

written by

1981

 

For Export Only: Pesticides (1981)

For Export Only: Pesticides

TV Movie

written by

1981

 

A Plague on Our Children (1979)

A Plague on Our Children

written by

1979

 

Vietnam: An American Journey (1979)

Vietnam: An American Journey

written by

1979

 

Incident at Browns Ferry (1977)

Incident at Browns Ferry

written by

1977

 

Linus Pauling, Crusading Scientist (1977)

Linus Pauling, Crusading Scientist

written by

1977

 

The Gifts (1970)

The Gifts

6.4

Short

Writer

1970

 

CBS Reports (1959)

CBS Reports

7.2

TV Series

written by

1964–1965

2 episodes

 

Producer

American Justice on Trial (2022)

American Justice on Trial

7.7

Short

co-producer

2022

 

The Ultimate Wish: Ending the Nuclear Age

Short

producer

2012

 

Leaving Home

producer

2011

 

Woman Rebel (2010)

Woman Rebel

7.4

Short

executive producer

2010

 

Come Out Shining!

Video

producer

2008

 

White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (2007)

White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

8.3

executive producer

2007

 

The Last Atomic Bomb (2006)

The Last Atomic Bomb

producer

2006

 

Eating the Scorpion (2005)

Eating the Scorpion

producer

2005

 

Convictions: Prisoners of Conscience (2004)

Convictions: Prisoners of Conscience

Short

producer

2004

 

SOA: Guns and Greed (2001)

SOA: Guns and Greed

Short

producer

2001

 

Five Days to Change the World (2001)

Five Days to Change the World

producer

2001

 

Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins (1996)

Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins

6.5

producer

1996

 

Ben Spock, Baby Doctor (1996)

Ben Spock, Baby Doctor

Video

producer

1996

 

School of the Americas Assassins (1994)

School of the Americas Assassins

6.5

Short

producer

1994

 

Backlash in the Wild

TV Movie

producer

1993

 

The Money Lenders (1991)

The Money Lenders

TV Movie

producer

1991

 

Can Tropical Rainforests Be Saved? (1991)

Can Tropical Rainforests Be Saved?

TV Movie

producer

1991

 

Frontline (1983)

Frontline

8.6

TV Series

consulting producer

1990

1 episode

 

Who Shot President Kennedy? (1988)

Who Shot President Kennedy?

8.4

producer

1988

 

Increase and Multiply?

TV Movie

producer

1987

 

Do Not Enter: The Visa War Against Ideas (1986)

Do Not Enter: The Visa War Against Ideas

producer

1986

 

Hungry for Profit (1985)

Hungry for Profit

producer

1985

 

The Business of Hunger

Short

producer

1984

 

In Our Hands (1983)

In Our Hands

6.3

producer

1983

 

Asbestos Alert

Short

producer

1982

 

Gods of Metal (1982)

Gods of Metal

7.6

Short

producer

1982

 

What Price Clean Air? (1981)

What Price Clean Air?

producer

1981

 

For Export Only: Pharmaceuticals (1981)

For Export Only: Pharmaceuticals

TV Movie

producer

1981

 

For Export Only: Pesticides (1981)

For Export Only: Pesticides

TV Movie

producer

1981

 

A Plague on Our Children (1979)

A Plague on Our Children

producer

1979

 

Vietnam: An American Journey (1979)

Vietnam: An American Journey

producer

1979

 

ABC News Close-Up (1960)

ABC News Close-Up

6.4

TV Series

producer

1978

1 episode

 

Hostage!

TV Movie

producer

1978

 

Incident at Browns Ferry (1977)

Incident at Browns Ferry

producer

1977

 

Linus Pauling, Crusading Scientist (1977)

Linus Pauling, Crusading Scientist

producer

1977

 

The Gifts (1970)

The Gifts

6.4

Short

executive producer

1970

 

HHH: What Manner of Man

6.8

TV Movie

producer

1968

 

CBS Reports (1959)

CBS Reports

7.2

TV Series

producer

segment producer

associate producer

1964–1965

3 episodes

 

Cinematographer

Leaving Home

Cinematographer

2011

 

Additional Crew

Dustin Hoffman, Andy Garcia, Rachel Weisz, and Edward Burns in Confidence (2003)

Confidence

6.6

production controller: Cinerenta

2003

 

Frontline (1983)

Frontline

8.6

TV Series

consultant

1990

1 episode

 

Thanks

The Prosecution of an American President (2012)

The Prosecution of an American President

7.4

special thanks: consultant

2012

 

The Sessions (2012)

The Sessions

7.2

special thanks

2012

 

Self

The Money Lenders (1991)

The Money Lenders

TV Movie

Narrator

1991

 

Do Not Enter: The Visa War Against Ideas (1986)

Do Not Enter: The Visa War Against Ideas

Narrator

1986

 

Hungry for Profit (1985)

Hungry for Profit

Narrator

1985

 

What Price Clean Air? (1981)

What Price Clean Air?

Narrator

1981

 

For Export Only: Pharmaceuticals (1981)

For Export Only: Pharmaceuticals

TV Movie

Narrator

1981

 

For Export Only: Pesticides (1981)

For Export Only: Pesticides

TV Movie

Narrator

1981

 

Vietnam: An American Journey (1979)

Vietnam: An American Journey

Narrator

1979