LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Funeral services were pending today for Gene Reynolds, the co-creator of the ``M*A*S*H'' television series and who also executive-produced shows such as ``Lou Grant'' and ``Blossom.''
The Directors Guild of America, for which Reynolds served as president from 1993-97, confirmed his death at age 96. According to Variety, Reynolds died Monday at his Burbank home.
``Gene's influence on the modern Directors Guild of America was significant and lasting,'' DGA President Thomas Schlamme said. ``During his two terms as president, he dedicated himself to making the guild more inclusive -- broadening the leadership base, encouraging younger members to take leadership positions, strengthening ties between feature directors, pushing the industry to do better on diversity and working to modify DGA agreements so that filmmakers with low budgets could benefit from DGA membership.''
Reynolds was a six-time Emmy winner, including two outstanding drama series prizes for ``Lou Grant'' and one comedy series award for ``M*A*S*H.'' He also won an outstanding new series award in 1970 for ``Room 222.''
The DGA presented him with its Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award in 1993 for his service to the guild.
Born in Cleveland, he began acting as a teenager, appearing in a variety of films including ``Boyd Town'' and ``Captains Courageous.'' But he eventually gave up on acting in favor of directing, writing and producing.
He directed episodes of shows such as ``Leave it to Beaver,'' ``My Three Sons'' and ``F Troop,'' before creating ``M*A*S*H'' with Larry Gelbart.