David Howard Susskind was born December 19, 1920, in New York City, New York, the son of
Benjamin and Frances (née Lear) Susskind. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison from
1938 to 1940, transferring to Harvard University where he received a B.S. in
1942. Susskind was a first cousin of writer and producer Norman Lear.
Susskind served as a naval lieutenant in World War II. During the years 1946-1948, he worked in the publicity department of Warner Bros. and at Universal Pictures Corporation. Susskind was a talent agent at Century Artists and for the Music Corporation of America (MCA) from 1949 to 1952. In later years he became co-owner and president of Talent Associates Ltd., a company engaging in television, theater, and motion picture production.
Susskind was the producer of the Broadway productions: A Very Special Baby (1956); Rashomon (1959); Kelly (1965); and All in Good
Time (1965). He also produced the motion pictures: Edge of the City (1956); Raisin in the Sun (1960); Requiem for a
Heavyweight (1961); All the Way
Home (1963); and Lovers and Other
Strangers (1970). Susskind's primary focus however was television. Susskind was
moderator of the television interview program Open
End from 1958 to 1965 changing its title to The David Susskind Show which ran until 1986. He produced the
following shows on television: Dupont Show of the
Month; Philco Playhouse; Kraft Theatre, Armstrong Circle Theatre; Kaiser Aluminum Hour; Festival of
Performing Arts; East Side/West
Side; Get Smart; N.Y.P.D.; and others. His dramatic specials
included: At the Drop of Another Hat;
Blind Ambition, Johnny Belinda; The
Crucible; Death of a Salesman;
The Desperate Hours; Dial “M” for Murder; Hedda Gabler; Laura; Mark Twain Tonight!;
Moon and Sixpence; Of Mice and Men; and The Power and the Glory.
Susskind received the Peabody Award for Television in 1960; the Sylvania Television Awards
in 1959 and 1960; the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Award in 1958, 1959, and 1960;
the Robert Sherwood Award in 1957; the Newspaper Guild Award in 1958; and the Christopher
Award in 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, and 1959.
David Susskind married Phyllis Briskin in August 1939, and they had three children, Pamela,
Diana, and Andrew. Susskind and his second wife, Joyce Davidson, a former Canadian
television commentator, had one daughter, Samantha. David Susskind died on February 22, 1987,
in New York City, New York.
Talent Associates Ltd. History
| 1952 |
Company co-founded by David Susskind and Alfred L. Levy. Firm originally managed
careers of actors and writers but began to pioneer packaging new television
shows.
|
| 1961 |
Susskind sold half-interest of firm to Paramount.
|
| 1963 |
Daniel Melnick, former ABC program executive, joined company as full-fledged
partner, with title of executive vice president.
|
| 1965 |
Leonard Stern joined as vice president.
|
| 1970 |
Norton Simon Inc. acquired Talent Associates as an autonomous operating
subsidiary.
|
| 1977 |
Talent Associates Ltd. sold to Time-Life Films.
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