Mel Stuart

Not to be confused with Mel Stewart.
Mel Stuart
Born Stuart Solomon[1]
September 2, 1928
New York City
Died August 9, 2012 (aged 83)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.A.
Cause of death
 Cancer
Nationality American
Occupation Director, producer
Years active 1963–2000

Mel Stuart, born Stuart Solomon (September 2, 1928 – August 9, 2012), was an American film director and producer.

Stuart directed the fantasy-musical Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). He has directed other features, including If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969), One is a Lonely Number (1972) and Running on the Sun: The Badwater 135 (2000).

Stuart also directed feature documentaries including Four Days in November and Wattstax.

In addition he has directed or produced over 180 films including movies of the week, The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal, Bill, The Chisholms, and Ruby and Oswald, the television series Ripley's Believe it Not, and the documentaries The Making of the President 1960, 1964, and 1968, The Hobart Shakespeareans, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Man Ray — The Prophet of the Avant-Garde, George Plimpton and the Philharmonic and The Poet's View.

He was awarded four Emmy awards, an Academy Award nomination, a Peabody, and numerous other awards. Stuart also served as president of the International Documentary Association for two years.

He often worked with TV producer David L. Wolper. Stuart died of cancer at his Beverly Hills home on August 9, 2012.[2]

Family

Stuart was a first cousin of Stan Lee of Marvel Comics. Stuart married his first wife Harriet Rosalind Dolin on August 12, 1956. They have three children: Madeline, Peter, and Andrew. Madeline and Peter make appearances in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Stuart and Dolin divorced in 1979. He married his second wife Roberta Silberman in the 1980s, and they stayed together until her death in 2011.

Death

On August 9, 2012, Stuart died at the age of 83 from cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California. In addition to his three kids from his first marriage, Stuart was also survived by two grandchildren.

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ Hevesi, Dennis (August 10, 2012). "Mel Stuart, 'Willy Wonka' Director, Dies at 83". NYTimes.com. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Willy Wonka director Mel Stuart dies at 83". BBC. August 10, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  3. ↑ Canby, Vincent (February 16, 1973). "Wattstax (1972) Film: 'Wattstax,' Record of Watts Festival Concert". The New York Times.

External links