Edgar Scherick


Edgar J. Scherick was an Academy-, Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning American television executive and producer of television miniseries, made-for-television films, and theatrical motion pictures.

Life and career

Scherick was born in New York City, the son of Jennie and Jacob J. Scherick. He was raised in Long Beach, NY and graduated Long Beach High School in 1941.
Widely credited as a pioneer in network sports broadcasting, Scherick created the television program ABC's Wide World of Sports at his company Sports Programs, Inc. which he started in 1956 with $600.00. In February 1960, Scherick sold Sports Programs to the American Broadcasting Company for $500,000 in ABC stock, where it became ABC Sports, the sports division of the network. With the acquisition, Scherick was appointed head of the ABC Sports division, then Vice President in charge of Network Sales. In June 1963, Scherick became Vice President of Programming for the ABC Television Network, where he created many popular shows including Bewitched, Batman, That Girl, The Hollywood Palace, and Peyton Place.
After his television career, Edgar Scherick became a film and television producer and executive producer of 75 theatrical films, television movies and mini-series through his company Palomar Pictures International and other entities.
In 1983, Scherick had a cameo role as Wilson Crockett, a network television executive, in the Martin Scorsese film, The King of Comedy.
By January 2, 1990, Scherick had gone to work with Saban Entertainment through its Saban/Scherick Productions division, which was for mostly television movies and mini-series He died of complications from leukemia.
Scherick hired and served as a mentor to many famous television and theatrical producers and industry executives including Roone Arledge, Brian Grazer, Scott Rudin, Michael Barnathan, Robert Lawrence and David Nicksay.

Awards and nominations

Scherick's television body of work includes 6 Emmy nominations and one winning Emmy:
Also served as chair of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame beginning in 1988.

Select filmography

All films, he was producer unless otherwise noted.

Film

;As an actor
YearFilmRole
1982The King of ComedyWilson Crockett

;Miscellaneous crew
YearFilmNotes
1979Fish HawkPresenter

Television

;As an actor
YearTitleRoleNotes
1985Murder: By Reason of InsanityHoward NortonTelevision film
1988A Year in the LifeGottlieb
1995Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: LightningMcLaughlinTelevision film
1995It Was Him or UsTelevision film

;As writer
YearTitle
1992Scorch

;Miscellaneous crew
YearTitleRoleNotes
1982The Scarlet PimpernelProduction consultantTelevision film