Ted Hartley obit

Ted Hartley Dies: Actor, Producer & Former RKO Pictures Boss Was 100

 

He was not on the list.

Ted Hartley, the film and stage actor and former CEO and Chairman of RKO Pictures, has died at 100.

The Hamptons resident passed away October 10 in New York City, according to the East Hampton Star.

Hartley and his wife, Dina Merrill, are known for merging their Pavilion Communications business with RKO Pictures Corporation in 1991.

Born on November 6, 1924, in Omaha, NE, Hartley was a Navy officer and fighter pilot before becoming an actor in Hollywood in the 1960s. He played Reverend Jerry Bedford in ABC soap opera Peyton Place and was cast in Chopper One, a show based around police helicopters, for the same network.

On the big screen, he had parts in films such as Clint Eastwood starrer High Plains Drifter, Barefoot in the Park, and Caddyshack II. His most recent acting role was in 2012’s A Late Quartet, which starred Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener and Christopher Walken.

In 1987, Hartley joined Pavilion Communications, which four years later acquired 51% of RKO, which released the likes of Citizen Kane and King Kong during its golden era. He would lead the company as Chairman and CEO.

The new-look RKO produced the likes of Mighty Joe Young remake for Disney, Ritual for Miramax and noir pic Shade in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Hartley also produced Broadway musicals Never Gonna Dance, Curtains, Gypsy and 13, and Top Hat, which won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2013. Curtains was twice nominated for Tony Awards.

Hartley sold RKO Pictures just this year to Concord Originals, as we revealed back in June. The deal gave Concord derivative rights to over 5,000 titles, which include the remake, sequel, story, stage and copyrights of the company’s storied film library. RKO has continued to operate as its own imprint under Concord Originals, and Hartley even remained as lead producer and chief storyteller on a slate of projects, while also acting as Chairman Emeritus.

Actor

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, and Mark Ivanir in A Late Quartet (2012)

A Late Quartet

7.1

Winning Bidder

2012

 

Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, and Alexander Ludwig in Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

Race to Witch Mountain

5.7

Four-Star General V. Lewton

2009

 

Petra Wright in Laura Smiles (2005)

Laura Smiles

5.6

Therapist

2005

 

Sylvester Stallone, Gabriel Byrne, Melanie Griffith, Jamie Foxx, Thandiwe Newton, and Stuart Townsend in Shade (2003)

Shade

6.3

'Teddy' The Surgeon

2003

 

John Alexander in Mighty Joe Young (1998)

Mighty Joe Young

5.7

Society Man (as Theodore R. Hartley)

1998

 

Calista Flockhart in Milk & Money (1996)

Milk & Money

5.0

Lingerie Salesman

1996

 

Tim Robbins in The Player (1992)

The Player

7.5

Party Guest (uncredited)

1992

 

False Identity (1990)

False Identity

5.1

Inn Keeper

1990

 

Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Dyan Cannon, Randy Quaid, Jonathan Silverman, Jessica Lundy, Jackie Mason, Dina Merrill, Robert Stack, and Marsha Warfield in Caddyshack II (1988)

Caddyshack II

3.8

Club Member

1988

 

Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story (1986)

Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story

6.4

TV Movie

1986

 

Priscilla Barnes, Dirk Benedict, and Shelley Smith in Scruples (1981)

Scruples

7.2

TV Movie

Herman Lingwood

1981

 

William Conrad in Nero Wolfe (1981)

Nero Wolfe

7.2

TV Series

Frank Carlson

1981

1 episode

 

Robert Conrad and Ross Martin in The Wild Wild West Revisited (1979)

The Wild Wild West Revisited

6.6

TV Movie

Tsar Nicholas of Russia

1979

 

Husbands, Wives & Lovers (1978)

Husbands, Wives & Lovers

5.7

TV Series

Phil

1978

1 episode

 

Matilda (1978)

Matilda

3.7

Payne Smith

1978

 

The Ghost of Flight 401 (1978)

The Ghost of Flight 401

5.7

TV Movie

1978

 

Tommy Lee Jones in The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977)

The Amazing Howard Hughes

6.6

TV Movie

Attorney

1977

 

Jo Ann Harris, Shelly Novack, and Robert Stack in Most Wanted (1976)

Most Wanted

6.9

TV Series

Dr. Ramsey Miller

1977

1 episode

 

Gemini Man (1976)

Gemini Man

6.2

TV Series

Col. Frank DeBlazio

1976

1 episode

 

Kay Lenz and Stephen McHattie in Moving Violation (1976)

Moving Violation

5.5

Prosecutor

1976

 

David McCallum in The Invisible Man (1975)

The Invisible Man

6.6

TV Series

Craig

1975

1 episode

 

Dennis Weaver in McCloud (1970)

McCloud

7.0

TV Series

Donald

1975

1 episode

 

Dianne Hull and Paul Le Mat in Aloha Bobby and Rose (1975)

Aloha Bobby and Rose

6.3

Cop (uncredited)

1975

 

The Streets of San Francisco (1972)

The Streets of San Francisco

7.3

TV Series

John Dornen

1975

1 episode

 

The Missiles of October (1974)

The Missiles of October

8.1

TV Movie

American General

1974

 

Chopper One (1974)

Chopper One

7.1

TV Series

Captain McKeeganCapt. McKeegan

1974

13 episodes

 

Arthur Hill in Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971)

Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law

6.9

TV Series

Steve Flanders

1973

1 episode

 

Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

6.9

TV Series

Douglas Anthony

1973

1 episode

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

Michael BrandonMr. Mather

1970–1973

2 episodes

 

Walt Disney in The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.3

TV Series

Jumper CaptainStuart Maclver

1967–1973

2 episodes

 

Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Don Elliot

1973

1 episode

 

Clint Eastwood in High Plains Drifter (1973)

High Plains Drifter

7.4

Lewis Belding

1973

 

Banyon (1971)

Banyon

7.6

TV Series

Tim EganSonny Arnheim

1971–1972

2 episodes

 

Anthony Franciosa, Doug McClure, and Hugh O'Brian in Search (1972)

Search

8.0

TV Series

Lee Cardiff

1972

1 episode

 

James Earl Jones, Martin Balsam, Barbara Rush, and William Windom in The Man (1972)

The Man

6.9

Press Secretary

1972

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

Ted CraneLarry Cole

1971–1972

2 episodes

 

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969)

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

6.9

TV Series

Ed MacKenzie

1969

1 episode

 

Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, Rock Hudson, and Patrick McGoohan in Ice Station Zebra (1968)

Ice Station Zebra

6.6

Lt. Jonathan Hansen

1968

 

Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, Charles Boyer, and Mildred Natwick in Barefoot in the Park (1967)

Barefoot in the Park

7.0

Frank

1967

 

Ann-Margret and Dean Martin in Murderers' Row (1966)

Murderers' Row

5.8

Guard

1966

 

Walk Don't Run (1966)

Walk Don't Run

6.6

Yuri Andreyovitch

1966

 

Peyton Place (1964)

Peyton Place

7.3

TV Series

Reverend BedfordRev. Jerry BedfordRev. Bedford

1965–1966

12 episodes

 

Producer

Barely Lethal (2015)

Barely Lethal

5.4

producer

2015

 

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, and Mark Ivanir in A Late Quartet (2012)

A Late Quartet

7.1

executive producer

2012

 

The Chosen

Short

executive producer

2011

 

Michael Douglas, Jesse Metcalfe, and Amber Tamblyn in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

5.8

producer

2009

 

Carson Grant and Abraham Sparrow in Bankrupt (2007)

Bankrupt

8.0

Short

executive producer

2007

 

Nia Long, Ice Cube, Aleisha Allen, and Philip Bolden in Are We Done Yet? (2007)

Are We Done Yet?

4.3

produced by

2007

 

Petra Wright in Laura Smiles (2005)

Laura Smiles

5.6

producer

2005

 

Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in The Gin Game (2003)

The Gin Game

7.1

TV Movie

executive producer

2003

 

Sylvester Stallone, Gabriel Byrne, Melanie Griffith, Jamie Foxx, Thandiwe Newton, and Stuart Townsend in Shade (2003)

Shade

6.3

produced by

2003

 

Tim Curry, Jennifer Grey, and Craig Sheffer in Ritual (2002)

Ritual

4.8

producer

2002

 

The Magnificent Ambersons (2001)

The Magnificent Ambersons

5.9

TV Movie

executive producer

2001

 

John Alexander in Mighty Joe Young (1998)

Mighty Joe Young

5.7

producer

1998

 

Holiday Affair (1996)

Holiday Affair

6.3

TV Movie

executive producer

1996

 

Calista Flockhart in Milk & Money (1996)

Milk & Money

5.0

producer

1996

 

Molly Ringwald, James Woods, Melanie Griffith, Peter Weller, Beau Bridges, and Elizabeth McGovern in Women and Men: Stories of Seduction (1990)

Women and Men: Stories of Seduction

5.2

TV Movie

executive producer

1990

 

False Identity (1990)

False Identity

5.1

executive producer

1990

 

Self

The Laurence Olivier Awards 2013

TV Special

Self - Winner: Best New Musical

2013

 

The 12th Annual Monte Cristo Awards

TV Special

Self

2012

 

King Kong 75th Anniversary Tribute (2008)

King Kong 75th Anniversary Tribute

5.0

Video

Self

2008

 

Tanner on Tanner (2004)

Tanner on Tanner

6.5

TV Series

Self

2004

1 episode

 

The 1999 Annual Golden Laurel Awards

TV Special

Self

1999

 

Shipshape (1978)

Shipshape

TV Special

Self - Congressman Nelson

1978

 

Mike Douglas in The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

The Mike Douglas Show

7.0

TV Series

Self - Actor

1965

1 episode

 

To Tell the Truth (1956)

To Tell the Truth

7.7

TV Series

Self - Peter Lake

1964

1 episode