Sam Strangis, ‘CSI’ and ‘Happy Days’ Producer, Dies at 95

As a fan who grew up watching the golden era of television, I am deeply saddened by the passing of Sam Strangis. His contributions to the small screen are immeasurable and have left an indelible mark on generations of viewers. From “CSI” to “The Brady Bunch,” his work has not only entertained us but also shaped the landscape of television production.


95-year-old Sam Strangis, who served as director, producer, and production executive for hit shows like “CSI,” “The Brady Bunch,” and “Happy Days,” passed away on July 23 due to kidney failure at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, California. The news was confirmed by a family representative.

Initially, Strangis kicked off his professional journey in the role of a script supervisor at Revue Studios. Subsequently, he helmed several episodes of the western series “The Restless Gun,” which aired from 1957 to 1959. Later on, he took up the position of production manager for the 1966 feature film “Batman: The Movie.” Eventually, he moved up the ladder to become the head of production at Paramount Studios.

At Paramount, Strangis managed various TV series including “The Odd Couple,” “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Love, American Style,” and “Mannix.

Strangis teamed up with his producing partner, Don Boyle, and ultimately departed from Paramount to focus on the legendary series “The Six Million Dollar Man” for Universal Studios. Afterward, he handled several TV movies. Later on, he returned to Paramount as vice president of television production.

Later on, Strangis established a standalone production company named Ten-Four Productions. This company was renowned for producing TV movies, with titles like “The Jill Ireland Story: A Reason for Living,” “Rainbow Warrior,” and “Rainbow” being some of their most notable works. These productions offered a glimpse into the life of Judy Garland.

After a five-decade-long career in TV production, notably on “CSI” and “CSI: Miami,” two of the network’s most successful shows, Strangis received several prestigious nominations. These included the Primetime Dramatic Series Emmy, the Golden Globe Award, and the Norman Felton Award from the Producer Guild of America.

Strangis is mourned by his spouse Bonnie, daughter Debi, sons Gary and Greg, sisters Judy and Cindy, as well as five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A memorial service was conducted on the 22nd of August at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Brentwood, California.

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2024-10-02 04:18