Home
Movies
TV Shows
Photos
Sign In

Home
Movies
TV Shows
Photos
Sign In

Home
People
Paul Alter

Paul Alter

Director, Producer, Writer

Born March 11, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died June 11, 2011

Upload Profile Picture

Share with a friend

On March 11, 1922 in Chicago was born Paul Alter, an American TV personality and director of several award-winning TV series. Alter is a graduated from New York University and the Yale School of Drama. Back in the early years while he was living in Chicago, Alter was studding piano with Teddy Wilson, from the Benny Goodman Quartet. The time spent with this talented musician helped him learn a lot about the music, and in the later years be his guide when composing film music. In 1969 Alter put his music talent to use for the first time and composed the music theme for “To Tell the Truth”. In 1950 he started working in television, and served as a key figure at Mark Goodson Productions. His first job as a game show director was with “Beat the Clock”. From there he went on to work on some 60 game shows and other productions.

He is best known as the original director of Family Feud from the show's origin in the mid-1970s until the early 1990s. For his contribution to this show Paul Alter was awarded with a Daytime Emmy in 1982. His second Daytime Emmy was for “The Price Is Right” in 1996. Over the course of his career that spanned five decades, Alter had a total of 14 Emmy nominations.

This television veteran helped create over 60 games shows and directed almost all of the pilots for the company’s shows, even if another director went on to lead the series. Outside the TV game show arena, Paul Alter gained attention with his lawsuit against the Walt Disney Co. over similarities between a story outline he wrote and the film "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid". Alter sued Disney claiming several similarities between that movie and his treatment, and when his case went to trial in 1993 the jury ruled in his favor, awarding him $300,000.

He directed the original version of Family Feud which ran on ABC from 1976 to 1985, and when the show was revived he continued to direct until he finally left the show and went on to direct “To Tell the Truth”. Paul Alter also directed both versions for the hit show “The Price Is Right”, one of the longest-running network series in the television history of the United States. He died from natural causes at 89, on June 11, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

2 wins and 13 nominations

Filmography

Actor

3

E! True Hollywood Story Poster

E! True Hollywood Story TV Series1996

To Tell the Truth TV Series1990

Family Feud Poster

Family Feud TV Series1976

Director

33

Type

Year

The Price Is Right 25th Anniversary Special TV Special1996

To Tell the Truth TV Series1990

Family Feud Poster

Family Feud TV Series1988

Card Sharks TV Series1986

Body Language Poster

Body Language TV Series1984

TV's Funniest Game Show Moments Poster

TV's Funniest Game Show Moments TV Special1984

Tattletales Poster

Tattletales TV Series1982

Beat the Clock Poster

Beat the Clock TV Series1979

Password Plus Poster

Password Plus TV Series1979

All-Star Family Feud Special Poster

All-Star Family Feud Special TV Series1978

Card Sharks Poster

Card Sharks TV Series1978

Family Feud Poster

Family Feud TV Series1977

The Better Sex TV Series1977

Double Dare Poster

Double Dare TV Series1976

Family Feud Poster

Family Feud TV Series1976

Now You See It Poster

Now You See It TV Series1974

Tattletales Poster

Tattletales TV Series1974

The Price Is Right Poster

The Price Is Right TV Series1972

Beat the Clock TV Series1970

He Said, She Said TV Series1969

Sale of the Century Poster

Sale of the Century TV Series1969

To Tell the Truth Poster

To Tell the Truth TV Series1969

Where the Action Is Poster

Where the Action Is TV Series1965

The Price Is Right Poster

The Price Is Right TV Series1956

To Tell the Truth Poster

To Tell the Truth TV Series1956

Feather Your Nest TV Series1954

I've Got a Secret Poster

I've Got a Secret TV Series1952

Two for the Money Poster

Two for the Money TV Series1952

Strike It Rich TV Series1951

The Big Payoff Poster

The Big Payoff TV Series1951

Beat the Clock Poster

Beat the Clock TV Series1950

What's My Line? Poster

What's My Line? TV Series1950

Man Against Crime Poster

Man Against Crime TV Series1949

Producer

5

Type

Year

TV's Funniest Game Show Moments Poster

TV's Funniest Game Show Moments TV Special1984

Tattletales Poster

Tattletales TV Series1982

Beat the Clock Poster

Beat the Clock TV Series1979

Tattletales Poster

Tattletales TV Series1974

Maurice Woodruff Predicts TV Series1969

Writer

2

Danger TV Series1950

Man Against Crime Poster

Man Against Crime TV Series1949

Music Department

2

Type

Year

To Tell the Truth Poster

To Tell the Truth TV Series1969

Alice of Wonderland in Paris Poster

Alice of Wonderland in Paris Feature Film1966

Composer

1

Child's Play Poster

Child's Play TV Series1982

Featured Celebrity Photos

Alessandra Ambrosio enjoys a day at the beach in Pacific Palisades

Adele Exarchopoulos at Jacquemus "La Casa" Cruise in Capri

Lucy Hale attends the Chanel annual dinner at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York

Camila Mendes at the CHANEL Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner in New York

Chloe Fineman attends CHANEL Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner at The Odeon in New York

Shailene Woodley at the 84th Annual Peabody Awards in Beverly Hills

Dakota Johnson at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2024

Dakota Johnson attends premiere of "Daddio" in New York

Ariana Grande's Photoshoot for 'The Boy Is Mine' in June 2024

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at Jacquemus La Casa Cruise in Capri on June 10, 2024

Eiza Gonzalez spotted outside The Bowery Hotel in New York on June 9, 2024

Olivia Cooke at the premiere of "House Of The Dragon" Season 2 in London

Dua Lipa Perform Live in Pula, Croatia

Kylie Jenner featured in Khy's new "006" Collection Photoshoot - June 2024

Laetitia Casta at Jacquemus La Casa Cruise in Capri

Eiza Gonzalez spotted in New York

Charli XCX leaving her hotel in New York

Ella Hunt attends the CHANEL Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner at The Odeon in New York

Belle Hassan with Love Island cast at Parklife Festival in Manchester

Sistine & Sophia Stallone Spotted in Manhattan

Sabrina Carpenter Promotional Photoshoot for Single "Please Please Please" - June 2024

Dua Lipa at Jacquemus La Casa Cruise in Capri

Suki Waterhouse spotted in Los Angeles

Jennifer Ens at AMFAD Premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival in NY

Charlotte Mckinney spotted at Nobu in Malibu

Meghan Trainor's Performance on NBC's Today Summer Concert Series in New York

Joey King at the premiere of "Despicable Me 4" in New York

Olivia O'Brien spotted at a private party at The Nice Guy in Los Angeles

Michaella Russell attending All My Friends Are Dead Premiere at the Tribeca Festival in NY

Lottie Moss Spotted in London

Oops!

Sign up for free

Company

About Us
Contact Us
Send feedback

Contribute

Add Movie
Add TV Show

Legal

Terms
Privacy

© 2024 Gawby.com

Send feedback to Gawby.com

Describe your issue or suggestion