Anthony Thomopoulos

Anthony Denis "Tony" Thomopoulos (Greek: Αντώνης Θωμόπουλος[1]) is an American motion picture and television executive. Thomopoulos spent 12 years of his career at ABC, moving progressively from Vice President of Prime Time Programs, to President of ABC Entertainment, to President of ABC Broadcast Group.

Biography

The son of Greek immigrants, he grew up in the Bronx. His dad owned a restaurant, young Tony was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church. After a high school aptitude test marked Thomopoulos as a potential diplomat, he applied to Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. But while at the Washington university, he got interested in business instead. His first job out of college was as a mail clerk at NBC's New York headquarters.

Business career

In 1973, Barry Diller hired Thomopoulos at ABC to oversee prime-time programming. He was noted, among other things, for the tough position he took in dealing with the contract holdout of Suzanne Somers on the hit ABC show Three's Company,[2] and for his quick cancellation of the 1982 cult favorite Police Squad!, explaining that the show had been cancelled because, among other reasons, "it required constant attention".[3][4] In June 1983, he was named president of the broadcast group.[5] He resigned as president in 1985[5] and became chairman of United Artists Pictures,[6][7] where he supervised such productions as Betrayed, Baby Boom, and The Living Daylights.[8] In 1989, Thomopoulos formed Thomopoulos Productions, an independent production company of both motion pictures and television programs.

From 1991[9] to 1995, he was President of Amblin Television, a division of Amblin Entertainment. He was responsible for the original placement of NBC's highly acclaimed program ER, in addition to several other successful series on network television. In 1995, Thomopoulos joined International Family Entertainment, Inc. (IFE). His responsibilities included all aspects of programming for The Family Channel. He was named CEO of MTM Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of IFE, and was also responsible for all aspects of MTM Television and MTM Distribution.[10]

Thomopoulos was Chairman and CEO of artist Thomas Kinkade's Media Arts Group[11] from June 2001 to January 2004. He subsequently founded Morning Light Productions.[12]

Personal life

Thomopoulos's first marriage ended in 1983 after 22 years, and produced three children. In 1985 he married television host Cristina Ferrare.[13] They have two children, Arianna (born 1989) and Alexandra (born 1986). As of 2011 they lived in California.[12]

References

1. "Τόνι Θωμόπουλος - Κορυφαίος παραγωγός και στέλεχος τηλεοπτικών παραγωγών στις ΗΠΑ". www.ellines.com. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
2. Tom Shales, "Behind 'Three's Company,' Somers and Smoke", The Washington Post, May 12, 2003  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
3. Barbara Holsapple, "Do Viewers Need Help With 'Police Squad?', Pittsburgh Press, July 1, 1982.
4. Steve Weinstein, "Never Ready for Prime Time? : 'Doctor, Doctor' is the latest wild and crazy comedy to find the going tough on network TV", Los Angeles Times, March 4, 1990."
5. "Thomopoulos Resigns as Head of ABC Unit". Los Angeles Times. 1985-11-12. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
6. "Thomopoulos gets new job", Associated Press in The Vindicator, November 22, 1985.
7. Jack Mathews, "He Wants to Add New Pages to UA's Illustrious History", Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1987.
8. Al Delugach, "Thomopoulos Resigns as UA Chairman", Los Angeles Times, September 27, 1988.
9. "Anthony D. (Tony) Thomopoulos has been named to the newly...", Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1991.
10. Steve Coe, "Thomopoulos to head MTM Entertainment: leaves Amblin with three series on air, including powerhouse 'ER.'", Broadcasting & Cable, March 6, 1995  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
11. Michael Hiltzik, "Future Clouded for 'Painter of Light's' Galleries", Los Angeles Times, February 3, 2003.
12. Lauren Beale, "Cristina Ferrare, Tony Thomopoulos sell Wilshire Corridor condo", Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2011.
13. "Leaving Her Trials (and De Lorean) Behind, Cristina Ferrare Weds in a Marriage Made in Private", People, May 6, 1985.

External links

• Tony Thomopoulos at IMDb
• Witness to History: Anthony “Tony” Thomopoulos (F’59), Georgetown University interview, November 12, 2008 (video)