Leslie H. Martinson

Leslie H. Martinson
Born
Leslie Herbert Martinson

(1915-01-16)January 16, 1915
DiedSeptember 3, 2016(2016-09-03) (aged 101)
Other namesLeslie Martinson
Les Martinson
OccupationDirector
SpouseConnie Martinson
Websitewww.lesliemartinson.com

Leslie Herbert Martinson (January 16, 1915 – September 3, 2016) was an American television and film director.

Career

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Martinson was born to Gertrude and Lewis Martinson in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 16, 1915. He had a brother named Bertram. He was a newspaper journalist before accepting a long-term job as an MGM script clerk in 1936. He began directing TV western series in the early 1950s. His first feature film assignment was Republic Pictures' 1954 film The Atomic Kid, a Mickey Rooney matinée vehicle.[1] Beginning with episodes of the series Conflict, Martinson became a prolific director for Warner Brothers Television.

In 1954-1955, he directed the first of Mickey Rooney's three failed situation comedy television series entitled The Mickey Rooney Show: Hey, Mulligan.[2] Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Martinson continued directing feature films and episodic television including Maverick, PT 109, Temple Houston, Batman, Mission: Impossible, Mannix, Diff'rent Strokes, and the made-for-TV movie, Rescue from Gilligan's Island. During the 1980s, Martinson directed episodes of Harper Valley PTA, CHiPs, and Airwolf.

Martinson was President Emeritus of the West Coast Jewish Theatre.[3]

Personal life

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He was married to television host and writer Connie Martinson.[4] They resided in Beverly Hills, California.[4] He turned 100 on January 16, 2015[4] and died on September 3, 2016, at the age of 101.[5][6] Prior to his marriage to Connie, Leslie was married to Louise Fish.

Filmography

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Director

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Awards

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Year Award Result Category Film or series
1972 Giffoni Film Festival Won Golden Gryphon Batman
2006 Golden Boot Awards Golden Boot
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References

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  1. ^ "Barnes & Noble.com - Biography". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
  2. ^ David C. Tucker, Lost Laughs of '50s and '60s Television: Thirty Sitcoms That Faded Off Screen. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company, 2010, pp. 128-135. 2010-03-25. ISBN 9780786455829. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  3. ^ "West Coast Jewish Theatre Board of Directors". Westcoastjewishtheatre.org. Archived from the original on 2008-11-10. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  4. ^ a b c "Beverly Hills Centenarian" (PDF). The Beverly Hills Courier. January 16, 2015. p. 5. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
  5. ^ "Leslie H. Martinson « Brezniak Rodman Funeral Directors". Brezniakrodman.com. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
  6. ^ "Leslie Martinson Dead: 'Batman' Director Was 101". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
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