Home
Movies
TV Shows
Photos
Now Streaming
Movies Streaming Now
TV Shows Streaming Now
In Theaters
Coming Soon
Sign In

Home
Movies
TV Shows
Photos
More
Now Streaming Movies Streaming Now TV Shows Streaming Now In Theaters Coming Soon Celebrities
Sign In

Home
People
Jac Venza

Jac Venza

Actor, Producer, Other Crew

Born December 23, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died May 28, 2024

Movies & Shows

Discover Jac Venza content online

Loading streaming options...

Finding the best places to watch

No streaming options available

Check back later for new content

No matches found for your search

Try different keywords

Content availability varies by region and time. Links open in new window.

Share with a friend

Quick Copy Link

Share on Social Media

Popular

Professional

More Options

Photos Profile Poster Backdrop Stills Logo Event Publicity Product Behind the Scenes Photos Other Photos Unknown Photos Videos Awards

Biography

Jac Venza was a public television producer who was directly responsible for most of the theatre and music programs that have been seen on PBS since its creation in 1970. From the early 1960s until his retirement in 2005, Venza brought such programs as NET Playhouse, Live from Lincoln Center, American Playhouse, American Masters, and Great Performances to millions of viewers. He won a Personal Peabody Award in 1998.

He began his career on CBS in the 1950s, where he began to notice the scarcity of programming devoted to the fine arts on television. It was his dream to bring more of it to the home screen on a regular basis, but he did not receive a full opportunity to do so until the creation of National Educational Television, where it soon became possible, thanks largely to Venza, to see great dramatic literature regularly performed by some of the world's most renowned actors. A then-unknown Dustin Hoffman made his first major television appearance in a play - Ronald Ribman's The Journey of the Fifth Horse - on NET in 1966. NET Playhouse was perhaps the first television anthology to present commercial-free, full-length productions (rather than one-hour or ninety-minute adaptations) of theatrical classics such as Arthur Miller's adaptation of Ibsen's An Enemy of the People. When NET became PBS, Venza quickly launched Great Performances, which is still running today.

Upon his retirement from PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting awarded Venza the Ralph Lowell medal. He held the record for the most Emmy nominations for an individual - 57 - until 2010.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Less

More

2 wins and 1 nominations

Jac Venza Photos

Filmography

Actor

2

Type

Year

An American Ballet Story Poster

An American Ballet Story Feature Film2022

The 32nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards TV Special1980Self - Winner

Producer

71

Type

Year

Broadway: The American Musical Poster

Broadway: The American Musical Mini-Series2004

La danse et Degas Documentary2003

Stage on Screen: The Topdog Diaries Poster

Stage on Screen: The Topdog Diaries Documentary2002

Stage on Screen: the Women Poster

Stage on Screen: the Women TV Movie2002

Far East TV Movie2001

Tantalus: Behind the Mask Poster

Tantalus: Behind the Mask Documentary2001

Australia: Beyond the Fatal Shore TV Series2000

La traviata Poster

La traviata TV Movie2000

The Man Who Came to Dinner Poster

The Man Who Came to Dinner TV Movie2000

Can't Stop Now Poster

Can't Stop Now Documentary1999

Jackie: Behind the Myth Poster

Jackie: Behind the Myth Documentary1999

The 53rd Annual Tony Awards Poster

The 53rd Annual Tony Awards TV Special1999

The Art of Piano Poster

The Art of Piano Documentary1999

Busby Berkeley: Going Through the Roof Poster

Busby Berkeley: Going Through the Roof Documentary1998

Hymn: Remembering Alvin Ailey Feature Film1998

Itzhak Perlman: Fiddling for the Future TV Special1998

Variety and Virtuosity: American Ballet Theatre Now Poster

Variety and Virtuosity: American Ballet Theatre Now TV Special1998

American Visions Poster

American Visions Mini-Series1997

Great Composers Poster

Great Composers TV Series1997

Griot New York Feature Film1995

Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl Poster

Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl TV Special1994

Antony & Cleopatra Poster

Antony & Cleopatra TV Movie1991

Performance Poster

Performance TV Series1991

The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez Poster

The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez Feature Film1991

Largo Desolato TV Movie1990

Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Closed Set Poster

Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Closed Set TV Movie1988

Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro's Poster

Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro's TV Movie1987

Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Pat Hobby Teamed with Genius TV Movie1987

American Masters Poster

American Masters TV Series1985

Musical Comedy Tonight III Poster

Musical Comedy Tonight III TV Special1985

American Playhouse Poster

American Playhouse TV Series1982

Guests of the Nation Poster

Guests of the Nation TV Movie1981

Big Blonde Poster

Big Blonde TV Movie1980

Fred Astaire: Change Partners and Dance Poster

Fred Astaire: Change Partners and Dance Documentary1980

Fred Astaire: Puttin' on His Top Hat Poster

Fred Astaire: Puttin' on His Top Hat Documentary1980

Happy Days Poster

Happy Days TV Movie1980

3 by Cheever Poster

3 by Cheever Mini-Series1979

A Life in the Theatre TV Movie1979

Mourning Becomes Electra Poster

Mourning Becomes Electra Mini-Series1978

Tartuffe Poster

Tartuffe TV Movie1978

The Trial of the Moke Poster

The Trial of the Moke TV Movie1978

Hard Times Poster

Hard Times Mini-Series1977

Three by Balanchine Feature Film1977

Great Performances: Dance in America Poster

Great Performances: Dance in America TV Series1976

The Adams Chronicles Poster

The Adams Chronicles Mini-Series1976

The Mound Builders Poster

The Mound Builders TV Movie1976

The Taming of the Shrew Poster

The Taming of the Shrew TV Movie1976

The Time of Your Life Poster

The Time of Your Life TV Movie1976

Year of the Dragon Poster

Year of the Dragon TV Movie1975

A Touch of the Poet Poster

A Touch of the Poet TV Movie1974

American Ballet Theatre: A Close-Up in Time Documentary1973

Between Time and Timbuktu Poster

Between Time and Timbuktu TV Movie1972

Particular Men Poster

Particular Men TV Movie1972

The Great Radio Comedians Documentary1972

Great Performances Poster

Great Performances TV Series1971

The Movie Crazy Years Documentary1971

Dragon Country Poster

Dragon Country TV Movie1970

Play for Today Poster

Play for Today TV Series1970

Let Me Hear You Whisper Poster

Let Me Hear You Whisper TV Movie1969

The Lively Arts Poster

The Lively Arts TV Series1969

Lincoln Center/Stage 5 TV Series1967

Omnibus TV Series1967

NET Journal Poster

NET Journal TV Series1966

Ten Blocks on the Camino Real Poster

Ten Blocks on the Camino Real TV Movie1966

The Journey of the Fifth Horse Poster

The Journey of the Fifth Horse TV Movie1966

The Star Wagon Poster

The Star Wagon TV Movie1966

NET Playhouse Poster

NET Playhouse TV Series1964

The Law and Lee Harvey Oswald TV Special1963

Festival of Arts TV Series1962

A Time to Dance TV Series1960

Neujahrskonzert der Wiener Philharmoniker Poster

Neujahrskonzert der Wiener Philharmoniker TV Series1959

Other Crew

1

American Masters Poster

American Masters TV Series1985

Art Department

4

Type

Year

Arthur Godfrey and the Sounds of New York TV Special1963

Glenn Miller Time Poster

Glenn Miller Time TV Series1961

The Vaughn Monroe Show TV Series1950

Mr. I. Magination TV Series1949

Art Director

2

Rendezvous Poster

Rendezvous TV Series1958

Mama TV Series1949

Production Designer

3

Type

Year

Twenty-Four Hours in a Woman's Life Poster

Twenty-Four Hours in a Woman's Life TV Movie1961

Play of the Week Poster

Play of the Week TV Series1959

Wonderful Town Poster

Wonderful Town TV Movie1958

Thanks

3

Type

Year

The Turandot Project Poster

The Turandot Project Documentary2000

Callas: A Documentary Poster

Callas: A Documentary Documentary1978

Great Performances: Dance in America Poster

Great Performances: Dance in America TV Series1976

Editorial Department

1

Great Performances Poster

Great Performances TV Series1971

Production Manager

1

American Masters Poster

American Masters TV Series1985

Set Decorator

1

Play of the Week Poster

Play of the Week TV Series1959

Featured Celebrity Photos

Chase Sui Wonders Shines at New York Premiere of 'I Want Your Sex

Hannah Einbinder Shines at Teenage Sex and Death Premiere in Los Angeles

Dakota Johnson Stars as Marilyn Monroe in Upcoming Short Film Set for July 2026 Release

Hayes Warner Attends FX's The Shards London Screening

Madison Beer Stops by Nail Salon Ahead of Los Angeles Meeting on July 30, 2026

Emily Feld Features Stylish Looks in That's So Fetch August 2026 Edition

Kathryn Newton Attends "The Devil's Mouth" Beach Party in Malibu

Hayes Warner Shines at FX's The Shards Premiere in New York

Aisling Sharkey Shines at Ted Lasso Season 4 Premiere in Los Angeles

Jennifer Lopez Spotted Exploring the Streets of Rome

Florence Pugh Shines at London Premiere of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" July 29, 2026

Zendaya Shines at the "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" UK Premiere in London

Selena Gomez Enjoys Yacht Day in a Bikini on the French Riviera

Lana Condor Attends "The Devil's Mouth" Screening Event in Culver City

Lindsey Pelas Shines at Ted Lasso Season 4 Premiere in Los Angeles

Anna Sitar Shines at Spider-Man: Brand New Day Premiere in Los Angeles

Anna McClelland Shines at Spider-Man: Brand New Day Premiere in Los Angeles

Chloe Veitch Shines at Los Angeles Premiere of Ted Lasso Season 4

Kaia Gerber Attends Press Junket for "The Shards" in New York

Mary Beth Barone Appears on Live with Kelly & Mark in New York

Chase Sui Wonders Shines at "I Want Your Sex" Los Angeles Premiere

Karlie Kloss Spotted on Book Tour in New York City

Katherine McNamara Shines at "Ted Lasso" Season 4 Premiere in Los Angeles

Karlie Kloss Spotted Out and About in New York City

Evan Rachel Wood Shines at FX's "The Shards" World Premiere in New York

Lauren Betts Shines at AT&T WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago

Kira Kosarin Shines at Los Angeles Premiere of Ted Lasso Season 4

Kim Kardashian Spotted Leaving UpDate Pop-Up at Saint Sernin on July 26, 2026

Sadie Sink Shines at "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" World Premiere in Hollywood

Kaia Gerber Shines at The Shards World Premiere in New York

Oops!

Sign up for free

Company

About Us
Contact Us
Send feedback

Contribute

Add Movie
Add TV Show
Contribution Guide

Legal

Terms
Privacy

© 2026 Gawby.com

Send feedback to Gawby.com

Describe your issue or suggestion