American Producer. Adelson was an industry titan who produced some of the most well-known television shows during the 1970s and 80s, including 'The Waltons', 'Dallas' and 'Knots Landing'. He moved to Las Vegas as a young man where he became a millionaire while still in his 20s, after opening a then-novel 24-hour grocery store. From there he got into real estate development, making him a multi-millionaire. He returned to Los Angeles in the 1960s and became involved in the entertainment industry, joining together with developer Irwin Molasky and producer Lee Rich to found Lorimar in 1969. The company first focused on made-for-TV movies, then soon branched out into original series. Having a huge early hit with 'The Waltons', it would go on to create numerous hits including 'Eight Is Enough' and the massive cultural smash 'Dallas', TV’s top-rated drama from 1979-84. By the 1984-85 TV season, three of the top 10 hit shows, 'Dallas', 'Knots Landing', and 'Falcon Crest', were Lorimar productions. Later in the decade, the company would also produce the popular sitcoms 'Perfect Strangers' and 'Full House'. In 1989, the company was sold to Warner Bros for $1.2 billion, and Adelson became Vice Chairman at Warner, though he left the company in 1991. Adelson famously married Barbara Walters twice, first from 1981-84 and again from 1986-92. He also amassed, and later lost, an enormous fortune. By the time he left Warner, he was worth an estimated $300 million but was nearly destitute after the dot-com crash of 2000-01 brought down several of his investments. Adelson died of natural causes.
American Producer. Adelson was an industry titan who produced some of the most well-known television shows during the 1970s and 80s, including 'The Waltons', 'Dallas' and 'Knots Landing'. He moved to Las Vegas as a young man where he became a millionaire while still in his 20s, after opening a then-novel 24-hour grocery store. From there he got into real estate development, making him a multi-millionaire. He returned to Los Angeles in the 1960s and became involved in the entertainment industry, joining together with developer Irwin Molasky and producer Lee Rich to found Lorimar in 1969. The company first focused on made-for-TV movies, then soon branched out into original series. Having a huge early hit with 'The Waltons', it would go on to create numerous hits including 'Eight Is Enough' and the massive cultural smash 'Dallas', TV’s top-rated drama from 1979-84. By the 1984-85 TV season, three of the top 10 hit shows, 'Dallas', 'Knots Landing', and 'Falcon Crest', were Lorimar productions. Later in the decade, the company would also produce the popular sitcoms 'Perfect Strangers' and 'Full House'. In 1989, the company was sold to Warner Bros for $1.2 billion, and Adelson became Vice Chairman at Warner, though he left the company in 1991. Adelson famously married Barbara Walters twice, first from 1981-84 and again from 1986-92. He also amassed, and later lost, an enormous fortune. By the time he left Warner, he was worth an estimated $300 million but was nearly destitute after the dot-com crash of 2000-01 brought down several of his investments. Adelson died of natural causes.
Bio by: Romper90069
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