Biography
Warren M. Lewis entered broadcasting in 1939 as a radio writer for several network shows, including "Silver Theater" and "Stars Over Hollywood."
During World War II, he served as a master sergeant in the Army Air Force, where he helped organize the Air Force Office of Radio Production. He also wrote speeches for the commanding general of the Army Air Force, General Henry (Hap) Arnold. Following the war, Lewis signed with NBC as a writer-director in charge of program development. A clause in his contract gave him ownership interest in any series he helped develop, including "Nightbeat" and "Four Star Playhouse."
In 1950, Lewis left radio to become exclusively involved with the creation and production of film packages for TV.
Joining Dick Powell, Don Sharpe, Charles Boyer (and later David Niven), Lewis was one of the original founders/owners of Four Star Productions. Lewis functioned as a creative producer; he also operated as de-facto executive producer and general manager of all the company's production activity during its early years.
Lewis produced several television series, ranging from "Terry and the Pirates" to the award-winning anthology "Four Star Playhouse," which starred Dick Powell, Charles Boyer, David Niven and Ida Lupino. Additionally, he produced "Henry Fonda Presents the Star and the Story," "Stage 7" and "DuPont Cavalcade Theater."
In 1956, Lewis and Sharpe sold their stock in Four Star and organized their own production company that eventually produced TV's first one-hour continuing drama series, "Wire Service," starring George Brent, Dane Clark and Mercedes McCambridge. Lewis served in an executive producing capacity on several TV shows of the early 1960s, including "Yancy Derringer," "Man With a Camera", Peter Gunn", and "Mr. Lucky," he was also the producer of several episodes of "Desilu Playhouse" for CBS.
In the mid-1960s, Lewis was involved in the acquisition, creation and development of literary properties for stage, motion picture and TV for his own company, Entertainment Properties Inc. of Hollywood.
He died on March 28, 1997 in Studio City at the age of 86.
