Douglas S. Cramer

Douglas S. Cramer, one of the most successful producers in television, began his career in advertising working as a TV executive for Proctor & Gamble in the late '50s after earning his Master's at Columbia University. In 1962, he joined ABC Television as the Director of Program Planning. Four years later he moved to 20th Century Fox, where he served as vice president of television program development. Later, he became the executive vice president in charge of production at Paramount Television, where he rose to prominence working on "The Brady Bunch," "Mission: Impossible," and "The Odd Couple." By the late '60s, Cramer left the studios to become an independent producer, and formed his own company in 1971. Two years later he produced the acclaimed mini-series "QB VII" and earned his first Emmy nod. In 1976, he joined forces with Aaron Spelling, a prolific TV producer. This union led to Cramer's role as executive producer on primetime soap opera "Dynasty," which Spelling also produced. Cramer worked on the series for eight years, while working alongside Spelling on "The Colbys" and "Hotel," and earned an Emmy nomination. After a string of made-for-TV movies in the '90s, Cramer retired for television. Since retirement, Cramer has become one of America's leading contemporary art collectors, and a founding member of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. Douglas S. Cramer died on June 7, 2021 in Martha's Vineyard, MA.