Longtime TV Exec, Producer Leonard Goldberg Dies at 85

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Funeral services were pending today for Leonard Goldberg, the longtime network executive, producing partner of Aaron Spelling and most recently the executive producer of the CBS police drama ``Blue Bloods.''

Goldberg died Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from injuries suffered in a fall, his publicist told Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. He was 85.

During his extended partnership with Spelling, the pair produced hit shows such as ``Charlie's Angels,'' ``Fantasy Island,'' ``Starsky and Hutch,'' ``Family'' and ``T.J. Hooker.''

``I met Len 40 years ago on a show called `Charlie's Angels,''' actress Jaclyn Smith said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. ``He was an important part of the richest years of my career. It was this shared history that became a wonderful friendship. I have the greatest respect for him not only professionally but more importantly as a loving family man. Len, you are now truly surrounded by angels.''

Goldberg and Spelling also produced a series of made-for-TV movies, most notably the 1976 John Travolta-starring ``The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.''

During his long career, Goldberg served as head of programming at ABC, and also served as an executive at Screen Gems and as president of 20th Century Fox in the late 1980s. Films produced under his watch include ``Die Hard,'' ``Working Girl,'' ``WarGames'' and ``Broadcast News.''

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Goldberg is survived by his wife Wendy; daughter Amanda, an author; son Richard, a producer; son John, the mayor of Beverly Hills; and five grandchildren.


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