Harris Katleman, influential television executive, dies at 97 in Los Angeles

Harris Katleman, a former top television executive at MGM and 20th Century Fox, passed away on Wednesday in Los Angeles due to natural causes, as announced by his family. He was 97 years old. Born on August 19, 1928, in Omaha, Nebraska, Katleman moved to Beverly Hills at the age of 8 and began his career in the entertainment industry at a young age.

Early Career and Rise in Television

At just 19, Katleman dropped out of UCLA to join MCA as an “office boy” and quickly became a protégé of the legendary Lew Wasserman. Within four years, he was appointed to lead the agency’s television department in New York. During his tenure at MCA, he represented notable talents, including Jackie Gleason and Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Michael Hayes, and played a crucial role in signing stars like Clark Gable and Howard Keel.

Following his time at MCA, Katleman worked with Goodson-Todman Productions, where he oversaw the launch of several network series, including The Web and The Rebel. He also produced the 1966 film Ride Beyond Vengeance, which starred Chuck Connors.

Contributions to MGM and Fox

In 1972, Katleman was appointed president of MGM Television and senior vice president of MGM Inc.. His impact during this period was significant, particularly in the development of the 1975 CBS telefilm Babe, featuring Susan Clark, as well as popular TV shows like How the West Was Won and CHiPs. He left MGM in 1977 to establish Bennett Katleman Productions at Columbia, contributing to projects such as the 1979 NBC miniseries From Here to Eternity.

In 1980, he became president and CEO of Fox Television, where he oversaw productions like Trapper John, M.D. and the final years of M*A*S*H. Katleman was instrumental in developing iconic shows such as L.A. Law, The Simpsons, and In Living Color, before resigning in 1992.

Legacy and Personal Life

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Katleman was involved in various organizations, serving as president of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society and on the boards of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Brentwood Country Club. His memoir, You Can’t Fall Off the Floor: And Other Lessons From a Life in Hollywood, was published in 2018.

Katleman is survived by his children, Steve, a prominent entertainment lawyer; Michael, a TV producer; and Lisa, along with seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. His family described him as “a deft businessman who never—no matter how the cards were stacked—gave up.”