13 Facts About Chet Forte

Chet Forte was hired by ABC in 1963, where he worked for 25 years.

Chet Forte served as producer and director for a variety of broadcasts, most notably in sports for the Olympic Games, the Indianapolis 500, and football, which earned him eleven Emmy Awards.

Chet Forte was the first director of Monday Night Football, which he oversaw from its inception in 1970 until he was fired from ABC in 1987.

Chet Forte was named to the Star-Ledger's Team of the Century in 1999.

Chet Forte was drafted in the 7th round of the 1957 NBA draft by the Cincinnati Royals, but did not make the team, and never played in the NBA.

Chet Forte played for the Williamsport Billies of the Eastern Professional Basketball League from 1957 to 1959.

Chet Forte began working in TV, starting as a production assistant for CBS in 1958.

In 1970, Chet Forte was named the first director of Monday Night Football.

Chet Forte was indicted by a federal grand jury on three-counts of mail fraud and tax evasion.

Chet Forte cooperated with the government and was spared prison time, receiving a five-year probation sentence.

Chet Forte was working on-the-air days prior to his death on May 18,1996, in San Diego, California.

Chet Forte, who was known for his junk food obsession and for chain-smoking his way through telecasts, died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 60.

Chet Forte's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his cardiologist, Dr Steven Gross, alleging that the doctor was negligent in his treatment of Forte.