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{{Short description|American television producer and writer (1930–1978)}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| birthname = Bruce Bernard Geller | birthname = Bruce Bernard Geller
Line 4: Line 5:
| caption = | caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|10|13||mf=yes}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1930|10|13||mf=yes}}
| birth_place = ], ], ] | birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1978|5|21|1930|10|13||mf=yes}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1978|5|21|1930|10|13||mf=yes}}
| death_place = ], ] | death_place = ], U.S.
| spouse = {{Marriage|Jeannette Marx|1953}}<ref name="UCLA"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/amp/obituaries/latimes/93146446|title=Jeanette Geller - Obituary|website=legacy.com|access-date=Oct 13, 2020}}</ref>
| death_cause = Plane crash
| alma_mater = ]
| spouse = Jeannette Marx (September 1953 - his death)<ref name="UCLA"/><ref name="FAGJM">{{Find a Grave|21258037|Jeannette Marx}}</ref>
| known_for = Producing '']'' and '']''
| alma_mater = ] (1952)
| children=2
| known_for = '']'' & ]
| relatives = L. Geller of Quebec, Canada (daughter)<br>C. Geller of Boston, Massachusetts (daughter)<ref name="FAGJM"/>
}} }}
'''Bruce Bernard Geller''' (October 13, 1930 – May 21, 1978) was an ] ], ], ], and ]. '''Bruce Bernard Geller''' (October 13, 1930 – May 21, 1978) was an American ], ], ], and ].


==Life and education== ==Early life and education==
Born in ], Geller graduated from ] in 1952, where he had studied psychology and sociology and was involved in many activities including theater.<ref name="UCLA">, UCLA Performing Arts Special Collection/Online Archive of California (])</ref> Geller was born in ], the son of Dorothy (Friedlander) and General Sessions Judge Abraham N. Geller.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/23/archives/bruce-geller-and-stephen-gentry-tv-executives-die-in-plane-crash.html|title=Bruce Geller and Stephen Gentry, TV Executives, Die in Plane Crash (Published 1978)|first=Eric|last=Pace|newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 23, 1978|access-date=Oct 13, 2020}}</ref> Geller graduated from ] in 1952, where he had studied psychology and sociology and was involved in many activities including theater.<ref name="UCLA">, UCLA Performing Arts Special Collection/Online Archive of California (])</ref>


== Career == == Career ==
He pursued a career writing scripts for shows on the ] including '']'' (1953) and others. He also wrote the book and lyrics for ] productions including ''Livin' the Life'' (1957) and ''All in Love'' (1961), but his efforts met with only modest success. Geller left New York for ], where he was employed writing scripts for episodes of several ], including '']'', '']'', ], and '']''. He also worked as the co-executive producer of the '']'' series for the 1964-1965 television season. He pursued a career writing scripts for shows on the ] including '']'' (1953) and others. He also wrote the book and lyrics for ] productions including ''Livin' the Life'' (1957) and ''All in Love'' (1961), but his efforts met with only modest success. Geller left New York for ], where he was employed writing scripts for episodes of several ], including '']'', '']'', ], and '']''. He also worked as the co-executive producer of the '']'' series for the 1964-1965 television season.


While producing ''Rawhide'', he developed the idea for a new "cloak-and-dagger" series, '']''.<ref name="UCLA"/> In 1966, Geller created, wrote, produced, and directed ''Mission: Impossible'', the accomplishment for which he is best remembered. The show ran on ] from 1966 to 1973 and earned him an ] in 1966 as producer plus another for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama. During the early seasons, a photograph of Geller was included in the dossier of Impossible Missions Force (IMF) agents that IMF leaders Briggs and Phelps perused each week and was often visible on screen (such as in the episodes "Memory", "Operation Rogosh" and "Operation - Heart"). The series was ] in 1988 and aired until 1990 on ].
While producing ''Rawhide'' in the mid-1960s, he developed the idea for a new "cloak-and-dagger" series, '']''.<ref name="UCLA"/>


Geller also wrote, produced, and directed for the series '']'' (1967–1975), which was twice nominated for an Emmy Award. In 1973, he made his only venture into ]s, producing and directing '']'' starring ] and ].
In 1966, Geller created, wrote, produced, and directed the television series ''Mission: Impossible'', the accomplishment for which he is best remembered. The show ran on ] from 1966 to 1973 and earned him an ] in 1966 as the show's producer plus another for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama. During the first season, a photograph of Geller was included in the dossier of Impossible Missions Force agents that IMF leader Dan Briggs perused each week and was often visible on screen (such as in the episodes "Memory" and "Operation Rogosh"). The series was ] in 1988 and aired until 1990 on ].

Geller also wrote, produced, and directed for the popular '']'' TV series, which was twice nominated for an Emmy Award. In 1973, he made his only venture into ]s, producing and directing '']'' starring ] and ].


== Death == == Death ==
A flying enthusiast, Bruce Geller died when the ] ] he was piloting ran into fog and crashed into Buena Vista Canyon near ], ].<ref></ref> He is interred in ] in ].<ref>{{Find a Grave|6256236}}</ref> A flying enthusiast, Bruce Geller died when the ] he was piloting ran into fog and crashed into Buena Vista Canyon near ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/brief.aspx?ev_id=41576&key=0|title=LAX78FA048|website=www.ntsb.gov|access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> He is interred in ] in ].

==Accolades==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Awards and nominations
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Work
! Result
|-
| 1961 || rowspan="3"|] || Anthology Drama, 30 Minutes in Length || '']'': "The Trench Coat" || {{nom}}
|-
| 1962 || Episodic Drama || '']'': "Brown" || {{nom}}
|-
| 1964 || Anthology, Any Length || '']'': "The Judge" || {{nom}}
|-
| 1965 || ] || Fictional Television Drama || '']'': "Corporal Dasovic" || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|1967 || rowspan="3"|] || ] || rowspan="3"|'']'' || {{won}}
|-
| ] || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|1969 || Outstanding Dramatic Series || {{nom}}
|-
| Writers Guild of America Awards || Episodic Drama || '']'': "The Name is Mannix" || {{nom}}
|-
| 1972 || rowspan="2"|Primetime Emmy Awards || rowspan="2"|Outstanding Drama Series || rowspan="2"|''Mannix'' || {{nom}}
|-
| 1973 || {{nom}}
|}


== References == == References ==
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{{EmmyAward DramaWriting 1960s}} {{EmmyAward DramaWriting 1960s}}
{{Mission: Impossible}}

{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 06:33, 28 June 2024

American television producer and writer (1930–1978)
Bruce Geller
BornBruce Bernard Geller
(1930-10-13)October 13, 1930
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 21, 1978(1978-05-21) (aged 47)
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Alma materYale University
Known forProducing Mission: Impossible and Mannix
Spouse Jeannette Marx ​(m. 1953)
Children2

Bruce Bernard Geller (October 13, 1930 – May 21, 1978) was an American lyricist, screenwriter, director, and television producer.

Early life and education

Geller was born in New York City, the son of Dorothy (Friedlander) and General Sessions Judge Abraham N. Geller. Geller graduated from Yale University in 1952, where he had studied psychology and sociology and was involved in many activities including theater.

Career

He pursued a career writing scripts for shows on the DuMont Television Network including Jimmy Hughes, Rookie Cop (1953) and others. He also wrote the book and lyrics for musical theatre productions including Livin' the Life (1957) and All in Love (1961), but his efforts met with only modest success. Geller left New York for Los Angeles, where he was employed writing scripts for episodes of several television series, including Zane Grey Theater, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Rebel, and The Rifleman. He also worked as the co-executive producer of the Rawhide series for the 1964-1965 television season.

While producing Rawhide, he developed the idea for a new "cloak-and-dagger" series, Mission: Impossible. In 1966, Geller created, wrote, produced, and directed Mission: Impossible, the accomplishment for which he is best remembered. The show ran on CBS from 1966 to 1973 and earned him an Emmy Award in 1966 as producer plus another for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama. During the early seasons, a photograph of Geller was included in the dossier of Impossible Missions Force (IMF) agents that IMF leaders Briggs and Phelps perused each week and was often visible on screen (such as in the episodes "Memory", "Operation Rogosh" and "Operation - Heart"). The series was revived in 1988 and aired until 1990 on ABC.

Geller also wrote, produced, and directed for the series Mannix (1967–1975), which was twice nominated for an Emmy Award. In 1973, he made his only venture into feature films, producing and directing Harry in Your Pocket starring James Coburn and Walter Pidgeon.

Death

A flying enthusiast, Bruce Geller died when the Cessna Skymaster he was piloting ran into fog and crashed into Buena Vista Canyon near Santa Barbara, California. He is interred in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Accolades

Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Work Result
1961 Writers Guild of America Awards Anthology Drama, 30 Minutes in Length The DuPont Show with June Allyson: "The Trench Coat" Nominated
1962 Episodic Drama The Westerner: "Brown" Nominated
1964 Anthology, Any Length The Dick Powell Show: "The Judge" Nominated
1965 Bronze Wrangler Fictional Television Drama Rawhide: "Corporal Dasovic" Won
1967 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Dramatic Series Mission: Impossible Won
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama Won
1969 Outstanding Dramatic Series Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama Mannix: "The Name is Mannix" Nominated
1972 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Mannix Nominated
1973 Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Finding Aid for the Bruce Geller Papers, 1957-1976", UCLA Performing Arts Special Collection/Online Archive of California (California Digital Library)
  2. "Jeanette Geller - Obituary". legacy.com. Retrieved Oct 13, 2020.
  3. Pace, Eric (May 23, 1978). "Bruce Geller and Stephen Gentry, TV Executives, Die in Plane Crash (Published 1978)". The New York Times. Retrieved Oct 13, 2020.
  4. "LAX78FA048". www.ntsb.gov. Retrieved 3 August 2020.

External links

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
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2000s
2010s
2020s
Mission: Impossible
Television
1966–1973
1988–1990
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