TED HARTLEY

HARTLEY--Ted. Ted Hartley, Chairman Emeritus of RKO Pictures, dies. East Hampton, NY October 10, 2025 -- With deep sorrow, the family of Ted Hartley announces the passing of a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. Ted Hartley--a man whose life defied boundaries and embraced possibility--died peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of bold reinvention, creativity, and compassion. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Hartley was the son of the president of Northwestern Bell Telephone Company (AT&T). He was educated at the U.S. Naval Academy, Georgetown University, and Harvard Business School. A U.S. Olympic finalist in wrestling while at Annapolis, Hartley embodied discipline, and determination from an early age. His distinguished military career included service as a Navy carrier-based jet fighter pilot and two years as a White House aide under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. After sustaining injuries in an aircraft accident, Hartley retired as a Lieutenant Commander at age 30. In civilian life, Hartley rose to Executive Vice President of First Western Financial Corporation. A chance encounter in Los Angeles led him to acting, where he gained recognition for his role as Reverend Jerry Bedford in Peyton Place and starred in Chopper One. He shared the screen with Hollywood icons including Clint Eastwood, Cary Grant, Dean Martin, and Robert Redford. Hartley's passion for storytelling led him to producing and directing. He and his late wife, actress and philanthropist Dina Merrill, acquired a major stake in the historic RKO Pictures Corporation, with Ted serving as CEO and later becoming Chairman Emeritus following the acquisition by Concord. Under his leadership, RKO produced numerous films and expanded into Broadway, with Hartley producing acclaimed stage productions such as Gypsy, Big Fish, Curtains, Dr. Zhivago, Never Gonna Dance, and Top Hat, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hartley also served on the boards of ORBIS International, the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, the Steadman Philippon Research Institute, and the Village Preservation Society of East Hampton. His commitment to service and the arts was unwavering. He was the longest tenured member of the Metropolitan Club in Washington DC. He was also a member of the New York Yacht Club, River Club, Chevy Chase Club and Bel-Air Country Club. In 1989, Hartley married actress and philanthropist Dina Merrill, daughter of financier E.F. Hutton and heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. Their marriage was a true partnership--rooted in shared values, creative collaboration, and deep affection--lasting until Merrill's passing in 2017. Hartley was also a man of striking presence and style. Andy Warhol photographed and painted him in the 1980s, capturing the charisma that made him unforgettable. In later years, Hartley turned to painting himself, with solo exhibitions in Sag Harbor and New York City that drew acclaim and sold-out crowds. He is survived by his son, Phillipe Hartley, his two grandsons, and four great- grandchildren.