Biography
A legendary pioneer of early television in America, Tom McDermott was responsible for creating, writing, directing, and producing many iconic television shows. McDermott began his career in New York City in the 1940's at advertising agency Benton & Bowles, which produced television shows for their clients like Procter & Gamble and General Foods. While at Benton & Bowles, McDermott oversaw the development of The Danny Thomas Show, The Loretta Young Show, The Ann Southern Show, Father Knows Best, Zane Grey Theater, The Rifleman, and 2 daytime dramas, As the World Turns and The Edge of Night. Seeing television's potential, McDermott moved to Hollywood in 1959 to become a founding partner of Four Star Television with film actors Dick Powell, David Niven, and Charles Boyer. Four Star was both prolific and successful making television shows like Wanted: Dead of Alive (with Steve McQueen), The Big Valley (with Barbara Stanwyk, Lee Majors, and Linda Evans), Burke's Law, and The Rogues, which won a Golden Globe for best TV series in 1964. After Four Star and following a few years working at RCA, McDermott returned to television, producing Lassie, The New Beginning, Mazes and Monsters (with Tom Hanks), Cinderella at the Palace (with Frank Sinatra), Hotline (with Lynda Carter), and a documentary on Howard Hughes for HBO.
