David Susskind

David Susskind (December 19, 1920 – February 22, 1987) was a producer of TV, movies, and stage plays and also a pioneer TV talk show host. Susskind was born in New York City. He went to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and then Harvard University, graduating with honors in 1942 and then heading off to the World War. A communications officer on an attack transport, he saw action at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His first job was as a press agent for Wa... more

David Susskind (December 19, 1920 – February 22, 1987) was a producer of TV, movies, and stage plays and also a pioneer TV talk show host. Susskind was born in New York City. He went to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and then Harvard University, graduating with honors in 1942 and then heading off to the World War. A communications officer on an attack transport, he saw action at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His first job was as a press agent for Warner Brothers. Next he was a talent agent for Century Artists, ultimately ending up in the powerhouse Music Corporation of America's fairly-newly-minted television program department, managing Dinah Shore, Jerry Lewis, and others. He then came to New York and with Alfred Levy formed Talent Associates, Ltd., representing creators of material rather than performers and also itself creating programs for TV. Ultimately, Susskind himself became a producer—of movies and stage plays as well as TV programs. He married (and later divorced) two women,... less