Gary Smith, the legendary television producer known for his groundbreaking work on awards shows and music specials, passed away on Friday, July 18 in Los Angeles at the age of 90. His passing was confirmed by a family spokesperson.
Over his prolific career, Smith earned 30 Primetime Emmy nominations and won eight Emmys, establishing himself as one of the most influential producers in American television history. Alongside business partner Dwight Hemion, he co-founded Smith-Hemion Productions in the early 1960s. Their productions were lauded for their artistic vision, technical innovation, and elegance, transforming the landscape of variety and music specials. Their partnership continued until 2001.
Smith was behind the first TV specials for stars like Paul McCartney and Bette Midler, and also produced the final televised performances of Elvis Presley and Bing Crosby. His long-standing collaboration with Barbra Streisand resulted in some of her most iconic televised moments, notably the acclaimed 1973 special Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments.
Born in 1935, Smith graduated from Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) with a degree in scenic design. He started his career at CBS in 1956 as an art director, a position that highlighted his exceptional visual and theatrical instincts. In 1963, while working on The Judy Garland Show, Smith was asked to step in as producer, a pivotal moment that launched his illustrious producing journey.
Just two years later, he produced the pop and rock variety show Hullabaloo, featuring performances from The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, The Who, Simon & Garfunkel, and Sonny & Cher — making it a cultural landmark of its time.
In live television, Smith’s influence extended to producing six Tony Awards broadcasts, four Emmy Awards shows, the People’s Choice Awards, and the Disney Teacher Awards. He also produced AFI’s “100 Years…” film series, which aired for 11 years. His Emmy-winning work includes:
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1997 Tony Awards
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1995 Barbra Streisand: The Concert
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1978’s Ol’ Red Hair Is Back (Bette Midler)
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1971’s Singer Presents Burt Bacharach
The Smith-Hemion team won a combined 24 Emmys, and in 2002, Carnegie Mellon honored Smith with its Life Achievement Award, a distinction held by only three other alumni in over 50 years.
Additional credits include:
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Kraft Music Hall
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Uptown at Harlem’s Apollo Theater
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Rockette: A Holiday Tribute to Radio City Music Hall
Smith also produced landmark national events such as:
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The opening of EPCOT
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25th Anniversary of Disneyland
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Liberty Weekend (Statue of Liberty restoration, 1986)
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Four Democratic National Conventions (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000)
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Presidential Inaugural Galas for Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton
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ABC 2000, a 24-hour New Year’s Eve broadcast welcoming the new millennium
He was Executive Producer of tributes and specials like:
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AFI Life Achievement Awards for Barbra Streisand and Tom Hanks
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The Mary Tyler Moore Show Reunion
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I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special
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NFL’s 75th Anniversary
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100 Years of Hope and Humor, honoring Bob Hope
Smith is survived by his wife Maxine, an interior designer and artist, and their twin sons Jake and Zack. He is also remembered by his children from a previous marriage — Daisy, Doug, and Sam — as well as five grandchildren: Spencer, Jasper, Sienna, Ryan, and Charlotte. His daughters-in-law, Brett Smith (married to Jake) and Leah Smith (married to Zack), also survive him.
A private funeral will be held on July 22, with a public memorial scheduled for Saturday, September 20. More details will be shared soon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gary’s memory to SHARE, Inc., an organization he deeply supported.
