Bud Yorkin

February 22, 1926 — Washington, Pennsylvania, USA

Bud Yorkin (born February 22, 1926) is an American film and television producer, director, writer and actor. He directed and produced the 1958 TV special An Evening With Fred Astaire, which won nine Emmy Awards. Yorkin was born Alan David Yorkin in Washington, Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in engineering from Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. In 1956, he became the producer and director of Tennessee Ernie Ford's NBC comedy/variety program, The Ford Show. In 1963, Yorkin joined Norman Lear to form Tandem Productions, which, at first, produced several films in the 1960s to 1971 with such major studios like United Artists and Warner Bros., and later produced many of the decade's hit sitcoms, such as All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, and Sanford and Son. In 1999, he and Lear were awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of excellence and innovation in creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television. After his split with Lear, Yorkin went on to form Bud Yorkin Productions. His first sitcom after the split was the unsuccessful Sanford and Son spin-off sitcom Grady. In 1976, he formed TOY Productions with Saul Turteltaub and Bernie Orenstein (who produced Sanford and Son from 1974–1977), but their two hits were What's Happening!! and Carter Country. Yorkin's film directing credits include The Thief Who Came to Dinner , Divorce American Style and Inspector Clouseau (film) of the Pink Panther series. Yorkin is the father of television writer and producer Nicole Yorkin. He is married to actress Cynthia Sikes.