Robert-Halmi-Obituary

Robert Halmi Sr.

1924 - 2014

Obituary

NEW YORK (AP) — Prolific TV producer Robert Halmi, Sr., has died.

Halmi died Wednesday in his New York City home at 90, said spokesman Russ Patrick.

The Hungarian-born Halmi found success as a magazine photographer after arriving in America in 1951, shooting pictures for such publications as Life and Sports Illustrated.

But in a mid-career switch in the mid-1960s, he turned to moving pictures. During the next half-century he produced more than 200 programs and miniseries for television.

His specialty was family-friendly entertainment, with TV projects including "The Josephine Baker Story," the Bette Midler-starring "Gypsy," ''Merlin," ''Dinotopia" and "The Lion in Winter" with Glenn Close.

Other projects included TV versions of "The Odyssey," ''Alice in Wonderland," ''Gulliver's Travels," starring Ted Danson, and "In Cold Blood," with Anthony Edwards and Eric Roberts.

Often teaming on his films with his son, Robert Halmi, Jr., he claimed every project was a passion project, including the 1994 miniseries version of "Scarlett," Alexandra Ripley's sequel to "Gone With the Wind," which he defended as not a rip-off of the world's most beloved movie, but "an eight-hour study in American history."

Still active well into the new millennium, he produced the TV miniseries "Neverland" in 2011, and a year later a new version of "Treasure Island," starring Donald Sutherland and Elijah Wood.

"Today's producers are just money people who have X number of dollars, and with them they buy people, mostly on the phone," Halmi told The Associated Press in 1993. "I'm somebody with pretty good taste who goes one step further. With the creative process, everything has to be nurtured. I know on every project, every day, where it stands dollars-and-cents-wise, but I also know did someone have a cold."

His projects were honored with 136 Emmy Awards. A Peabody Award citation hailed him as "perhaps the last of the great network television impresarios."

Halmi recently had begun filming "Olympus," a mythological series for the Syfy channel.

"There are two English words which I never could understand or cope with ever since I came to this country," he told The AP. "One is 'security.' The other is 'retirement.'"

FRAZIER MOORE, AP Television Writer


Copyright © 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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CSODÁLATOSAK, ÉRZELEMMEL TELTEK a ROBERT HALMI filmek...NAGYON SOKAT LÁTTUNK MOSTANÁBAN, a Film Café TV.-csatorna adásában...UTOLÉRHETETLEN filmes NAGYSÁG volt...NYUGODJON BÉKÉBEN ...)

i would like to pass my condolences to the whole family.The late Bob was indeed a hero to many lives.Though dead in body his works are alive.

I am so sad to hear of the passing of Robert Halmi Sr..
I will forever have fond memories of having been a part of his ‘Search for Scarlett.' Even though I was not awarded the part of Scarlett, the experience of being at the center of such a hugh media campaign was a life changing experience. I have always been grateful to him for providing a forum and an opportunity for an unknown actress
like myself to be given serious consideration.

May God comfort you in this...

My sincere condolences to the family. I hope that your many fond memories will comfort you and that the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts –

"Even on your darkest days there is an angel by your side to guide you along the way to the heaven. Every moments that we spent time togeter were more then precious and priceless and we all thank you for giving us beautiful memories. You are the most respected and beloved person in the world."

We are deeply sorry for your loss. May you find comfort through your cherished moments shared with Robert and by reflecting upon the many promises of a better future surrounded by loving family and friends throughout eternity,

My condolences for your loss. I am sorey.

What a privilege it has been to know Mr. Halmi and take care of his eyes these past 10 years. He was one of my favorite patients. We talked about anything and everything during his visits. He was such a vital and truly inspirational man, always on the move, always looking forward to his next project. He will have a hard time resting in peace, and I trust that his spirit will find a way to mix up the heavens. My deepest sympathies to Caroline and the rest of his family. My heart and...