CineScope
David Susskind picture

David Susskind

Production
Known For

66 Years Old

David Howard Susskind (December 19, 1920 – February 22, 1987) was an American producer of TV, movies, and stage plays and also a TV talk show host. His talk shows were innovative in the genre and addressed timely, controversial topics beyond the scope of others of the day. His first job after the war was as a press agent for Warner Brothers. Next, he was a talent agent for Century Artists, ultimately ending up in the Music Corporation of America's newly minted television programming department, managing Dinah Shore, Jerry Lewis, and others. In New York, Susskind formed Talent Associates, representing creators of material rather than performers. In 1954, Susskind became a producer of the NBC legal drama Justice, based on case files of the Legal Aid Society of New York. His program Open End began in 1958 on New York City's commercial independent station WNTA-TV and was so titled because the program continued until Susskind or his guests were too tired to continue. In 1961, Open End was constrained to two hours and went into national syndication. The show was retitled The David Susskind Show for its telecast on Sunday night, October 2, 1966. In the 1960s it was the first nationally broadcast television talk show to feature people speaking out against American involvement in the Vietnam War. In the 1970s it was the first nationally broadcast television talk show to feature people speaking out for gay rights. The show continued until its New York outlet canceled it in 1986. During his close to three-decade run, Susskind covered many controversial topics of the day, such as race relations, transsexualism, and the Vietnam War. His interview with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, which aired in October 1960, during the height of the Cold War, generated national attention. It is one of the very few talk show telecasts from the era that was preserved and can be viewed today. In a now notorious interview with then 25-year-old Muhammad Ali during a recently-unearthed 1968 appearance on the British program The Eamonn Andrews Show, Susskind displayed an intense antipathy and vitriol towards the famous boxer, whom he excoriated with withering criticism for refusing to be conscripted into the U.S. military for the Vietnam War. Some commentators have described this as a racist attack. Susskind was also a noted producer, with scores of movies, plays, and TV programs to his credit. His legacy is that of a producer of intelligent material at a time when TV had left its golden years behind and had firmly planted its feet in programming which had wide appeal, whether or not it was worth watching.

Born

New York City, New York, USA on 19th December 1920

Died

22nd February 1987

All Credits

The Dick Cavett Show Image
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Image
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
The Merv Griffin Show Image
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
The Mike Douglas Show Image
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
The Phil Donahue Show Image
The Phil Donahue Show
Self
The David Susskind Show Image
The David Susskind Show
Self - Host
Saturday Night Live Image
Saturday Night Live
Self (uncredited)
What's My Line? Image
What's My Line?
Self - Panelist
Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine Image
Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine
Cameo
Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine Image
Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine
Himself
On Our Own Image
On Our Own
A Raisin in the Sun Image
A Raisin in the Sun
On-screen Trailer Narrator (uncredited)
Simon Image
Simon
Himself
Requiem for a Heavyweight Image
Requiem for a Heavyweight
Self - Trailor Narrator (uncredited)
Fear on Trial Image
Fear on Trial
Self
The Trials of Muhammad Ali Image
The Trials of Muhammad Ali
David Susskind Archive: Interview With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Image
David Susskind Archive: Interview With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
himself
The David Susskind Show: Give 'em Hell Harry Image
The David Susskind Show: Give 'em Hell Harry
Self
No Image
David Susskind Archive: Truman Capote Tells All
No Image
The Carol Lawrence Show
Self