‘Blue Bloods’: How Did Producer Leonard Goldberg Die?
Blue Bloods Executive Producer Leonard Goldberg died December 4, 2019, at the age of 85. He is best known for helping to bring popular shows such as Charlie’s Angels and Fantasy Island to television. Here’s a look at his life and career.
Leonard Goldberg’s movies and TV shows
Leonard Goldberg’s first project as an executive producer was the 1972 TV movie The Daughters of Joshua Cabe. That same year, he produced another TV movie titled No Place to Run. By 1974, Goldberg executive produced his first television series, titled Firehouse.
Goldberg’s other television projects include producing Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979), Charlie’s Angels (1976-1981), Fantasy Island (1978-1984), Hart to Hart (1979-1984) and T.J. Hooker (1982-1986). He began executive producing Blue Bloods since the show first aired in 2010.
Leonard Goldberg’s entertainment career
Goldberg’s entertainment career included more than producing films and television shows. He also has one credit as an actor. Goldberg appeared in the 2007 movie The Underdog’s Tale, in which he played the role of Hank. Furthermore, Goldberg had his own production company, called Panda Productions. During his career, the television executive sat on the board of CBS, served as vice president of daytime programming at ABC, and was the vice president of production at Columbia Pictures (then known as Screen Gems).
How ‘Blue Bloods’ Executive Producer Leonard Goldberg died
Goldberg’s wife, Wendy Howard Goldberg, said her husband died as a result of injuries from a fall at his home, reports The New York Times. He reportedly passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The ‘Blue Bloods’ cast reacts to Leonard Goldberg’s death
The Blue Bloods cast took to social media to post tributes to the late CBS executive. Blue Bloods star Donnie Wahlberg posted a sweet tribute on Instagram. He told his fans about a meeting he had with Goldberg that led to him playing the role of Danny Reagan. Here’s what Wahlberg shared about the meeting:
Ten years ago, I took a chance meeting with a TV icon, Mr. Leonard Goldberg. He convinced me that I could play the son of another TV icon, Mr. Tom Selleck, in Blue Bloods. 10 years, and over 200 family dinner scenes later (Mr. Goldberg’s idea of course), and I’m still working my tail off every single day, hoping to live up to Mr. Goldberg’s faith in me.
I cannot count the profound ways that he has changed my life — beyond giving me the role of a lifetime. He was a mentor, a friend, and a father figure. Not just to me, but to so many. His impact on the world of television and movies (and on all of us as a result) can never be measured. He was absolutely one of the All Time Greats! We lost a TV Giant today, and I lost a friend.
Tom Selleck also paid tribute to Goldberg. In a statement released to Deadline, Selleck described Goldberg as a “creative force” and a committed team member. “Leonard Goldberg was quite simply irreplaceable,” Selleck told Deadline. “As a creative force, as a boss, as a friend, as a husband, and a father. His unwavering commitment to our show inspired all of us to take to heart his frequently asked question, ‘what can we do to make it better?’ Rest in peace my friend.”
Read more: Does the ‘Blue Bloods’ Cast Get Along?
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