Matthew Rapf

Matthew Rapf
Matthew Rapf
Born	October 22, 1920; New York, New York
Died	December 11, 1991 (aged 71); Malibu, California
Resting place	Hillside Memorial Park
Alma mater	Dartmouth College
Occupation(s)	Film and television producer, screenwriter
Spouse	Carol Rapf
Father	Harry Rapf
Relatives	Maurice Rapf (brother)

Matthew Rapf (October 22, 1920 – December 11, 1991) was an American film and television producer and screenwriter. He was best known for producing The Loretta Young Show, Ben Casey, and Kojak.

Biography

Matthew Rapf was born in New York City on October 22, 1920,^[1]^[2] the son of MGM film producer Harry Rapf. His brother Maurice was a screenwriter (blacklisted in the 1940s) and film professor.^[3]

After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1942, he served as a lieutenant (junior grade) in the U.S. Navy during World War II.^[2]^[4] Returning to civilian life, he followed in his father's and brother's footsteps into filmmaking and was hired by MGM to be part of a production group headed by Charles Schnee.^[5] His first credit was for writing and producing the 1948 Western Adventures of Gallant Bess.^[6] In 1952 he wrote and produced the noir film The Sellout.^[7] After this he worked primarily as a producer, on films such as Big Leaguer^[8] and Half a Hero.

Rapf next moved into television, signing a long-term contract with NBC in 1955,^[9] and producing series for them such as The Great Gildersleeve, Frontier, Jefferson Drum, and Ben Casey.^[4]

In 1973 he produced the TV film The Marcus-Nelson Murders, starring Telly Savalas as police lieutenant Theo Kojak. Though not originally intended as a pilot, it became the basis of one of Rapf's most successful series, Kojak.^[10] He would be nominated for three Emmy Awards for his work on the film and show.^[11]

He was married to prominent real estate agent Carol Rapf.^[12]

Matthew Rapf died in Malibu on December 11, 1991, after a bout of influenza.^[2]^[4]

Filmography

Film

1948 Adventures of Gallant Bess (screenwriter, producer)
1951 No Questions Asked (associate producer)
1952 The Sellout (story, producer)
1952 Desperate Search (producer)
1953 Big Leaguer (producer)
1953 Half a Hero (producer)

Television

1953–1954 The Loretta Young Show (producer)
1953–1954 The Web (producer)
1955 The Challenge (TV movie; producer)
1955–1956 The Great Gildersleeve (producer)
1955–1956 Frontier (producer)
1957 The Web (producer)
1958 Jefferson Drum (producer)
1960 Two Faces West (producer)
1961–1964 Ben Casey (producer)
1964–1965 Slattery's People (producer)
1967–1968 Iron Horse (executive producer)
1968 Shadow on the Land (TV movie; producer)
1970–1971 The Young Lawyers (producer)
1971 Terror in the Sky (TV movie; producer)
1972 Hardcase (TV movie; producer)
1973 The Marcus-Nelson Murders (TV movie; producer)
1973–1978 Kojak (story, producer)
1975 Crime Club (TV movie; executive producer)
1975 One of Our Own (TV movie; executive producer)
1975–1976 Doctors' Hospital (executive producer)
1976–1977 Switch (executive producer)
1979 Doctors' Private Lives (miniseries; producer)
1979 Eischied (supervising producer)
1981 Gangster Wars (TV movie; executive producer)
1981 The Gangster Chronicles (miniseries; executive producer)

References

^ The Hollywood Reporter, Volume 320, Issues 18-34. Wilkerson Daily Corporation. 1991. p. 548. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Rapf, Matthew". Los Angeles Times. December 12, 1991. p. A36. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Maurice Rapf, 88, Screenwriter and Film Professor". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 18, 2003. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Matthew Rapf, Producer, 71". The New York Times. December 18, 1991. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
^ Schallert, Edwin (January 30, 1952). "Fairbanks Will Make Episode Film; Schary Boosts Young Producers". Los Angeles Times. p. 31. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
^ Motion Picture Herald. Quigley Publishing Company. 1948. p. 42. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
^ Blum, Daniel (1969). Screen World Vol. 4 1953. Biblo & Tannen Publishers. p. 12. ISBN 9780819602596. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
^ "Movie Group Pushes Plans In Melbourne". Orlando Evening Star. Melbourne, Florida. February 10, 1953. p. 11. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
^ Broadcasting. Cahners Publishing Company. 1955. p. 101. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
^ "Movie of the Week becomes a regular". The Anniston Star. Los Angeles. AP. July 18, 1973. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Matthew Rapf". Emmy Awards. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
^ "Rapf, Carol". Los Angeles Times. August 24, 2000. p. B12. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via newspapers.com.