As a follower who admires the rich tapestry of stories that fill our screens, I am deeply saddened by the passing of Alan Sacks. His eclectic career, spanning from sitcoms to documentaries and even skateboarding films, has left an indelible mark on television and film history.
81-year-old Alan Sacks, a film and TV writer-producer with a diverse background that encompassed creating the hit 1970s show “Welcome Back, Kotter” and delving into projects centered around the Los Angeles punk scene of the 1980s, passed away on Tuesday due to complications from lymphoma.
Garry Sacks hails from Brooklyn and kickstarted his career in the research sector at ABC Television. Upon relocating to Los Angeles, he carried on working for ABC as a program executive. In partnership with Gabe Kaplan and Peter Meyerson, he played a key role in conceptualizing and co-creating “Welcome Back, Kotter.” The sitcom was inspired by Sacks’ high school buddies from Brooklyn, along with Kaplan’s stand-up comedy acts.
I, too, found myself contributing to the creation of “Chico and the Man,” a project masterminded by none other than James Komack – the brilliant mind behind “Welcome Back, Kotter.
Back in 1991, Sacks developed and broadcasted a kids’ show on Saturday mornings titled “Riders in the Sky.” This show took over from “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” on CBS.
Between the 1970s and ’80s, he created television films such as “Women at West Point,” “The Life Story of Rosemary Clooney” (known as Rosie), and “A Heart’s Cry.
1984 saw a project concerning the L.A. group The Runaways fall through for him, but he utilized the captured footage in the film “Du-Beat-e-o,” which was set within the Los Angeles punk music environment. This movie centered around a director under pressure to complete a film featuring Joan Jett, and it starred Ray Sharkey and Derf Scratch from the band Fear.
Sacks was responsible for both writing and producing the skateboarding flick “Thrashin'”. This film featured the acting talents of Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler, and Pamela Gidley, along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers making their initial appearance on the big screen.
Among the films he created are “Elko: A Gathering of Cowboys” and “Happiness as a Byproduct of Compassion: Insights from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
As a passionate cinephile, I found myself stepping into the realm of Disney Channel film production, beginning with the creation of “Smart House.” My journey led me to produce the Emmy-winning masterpiece, “The Color of Friendship” in 2000, which earned recognition from Humanitas and the NAACP. I was also instrumental in the executive production of “Camp Rock,” featuring Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers, as well as its sequel, “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.” For Disney Channel, I also contributed to projects like “The Other Me,” “Pixel Perfect,” and “You Wish.” I expanded my portfolio by producing the TV series “Jonas” and the film “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience.” My journey continued as I ventured into working with the Jonas Brothers’ company.
Additionally, he penned, staged, and collaborated on the off-Broadway play titled “Lenny Bruce (Speaking in His Own Voice)”.
During his tenure with the Disney Channel, Sacks also took up teaching positions at Los Angeles Valley College, where he instructed courses on film, television, and broadcasting until his retirement in 2007.
In his last creative endeavor, he produced a podcast titled “Peter & the Acid King,” which delved into the unresolved 1984 murder of his friend Peter Ivers, who was the host of the TV series “New Wave Theatre.” For the 2023 version of this podcast, he spoke with over 70 individuals in search of answers concerning Ivers’ untimely demise.
Sacks leaves behind his spouse Annette van Duren, a talented agent, as well as daughters Samantha and Shannon, and a son named Austin. Additionally, he is survived by his sister, Jodi.
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2024-10-24 03:18