15 Facts About Leonard Katzman

Leonard Katzman was an American film and television producer, writer and director.

Leonard Katzman was most notable for being the showrunner of the CBS oil soap opera Dallas.

Leonard Katzman was born in New York City on September 2,1927, to a Jewish family.

Leonard Katzman began his career in the 1940s, while still in his teens, working as an assistant director for his uncle, Hollywood producer Sam Katzman.

Leonard Katzman started out on adventure movie serials such as Brenda Starr, Reporter, Superman, Batman and Robin, The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd, Riding with Buffalo Bill, et al.

Besides his big screen work, Katzman served on television shows, including The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, The Mickey Rooney Show and Bat Masterson.

In 1960, Leonard Katzman made his production debut, serving not only as assistant director, but as associate producer, on all four seasons of adventure drama Route 66, which he would later regard as his favorite production.

In 1978, Leonard Katzman served as producer for the five-part miniseries Dallas, which would evolve into one of television's longest running dramas, lasting until 1991.

The creative conflicts between Capice and Leonard Katzman eventually led to Leonard Katzman stepping down from his production duties on the show for season nine, instead being billed as "creative consultant".

Leonard Katzman agreed, reportedly under the condition that he would have "total authority" on the show, and as of the tenth season premiere he was promoted to executive producer, and Capice was let go.

Leonard Katzman remained as executive producer on Dallas until the series finale in May 1991.

Leonard Katzman fathered his first child, Gary Leonard Katzman, with Eileen Leener.

Leonard Katzman did not raise his first child and left his mother when he was 4 years old.

Leonard Katzman died of a heart attack in Malibu, California on September 5,1996, three days after his 69th birthday, and more than two months prior to the airing of his last production, Dallas: JR Returns.

Leonard Katzman was interred in the Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.