Overview

• Smith died Saturday in Los Angeles at the age of 90.
• He co-founded Smith-Hemion Productions in the early 1960s, pioneering an elegant and innovative approach to music and variety television.
• Over six decades he earned eight Primetime Emmy Awards from more than 30 nominations and produced six Tony Awards broadcasts and four Emmy telecasts.
• He created the first televised specials for Paul McCartney and Bette Midler and directed the final TV performances of Elvis Presley and Bing Crosby.
• He is survived by his wife, Maxine, their twin sons Jake and Zack, three children from a previous marriage, and five grandchildren.