W. Russell Barry, former president of 20th Century Fox Television and chairman of Turner Program Services, died on Aug. 26 at his home in Palm Beach, Fla., after a battle with terminal pulmonary fibrosis, Variety has learned. He was 84.
The business executive’s first Los Angeles job came in 1972, when he served as the vice president and general manager for Knx Television.
He soon shifted to 20th Century Fox, where he came on as the vice president of network sales before becoming the president of 20th Century Fox Television. His tasks included overseeing production and distribution for network and syndicated programming, from “M*A*S*H” to “Dance Fever.”
Barry held a variety of other jobs over his career and is credited with helping launch the Playboy Channel. In 1981, he became president of the Playboy Enterprises production company and helped negotiate the channel’s launch with Cablevision.
In 1986, he became president of Turner Program Services,...
The business executive’s first Los Angeles job came in 1972, when he served as the vice president and general manager for Knx Television.
He soon shifted to 20th Century Fox, where he came on as the vice president of network sales before becoming the president of 20th Century Fox Television. His tasks included overseeing production and distribution for network and syndicated programming, from “M*A*S*H” to “Dance Fever.”
Barry held a variety of other jobs over his career and is credited with helping launch the Playboy Channel. In 1981, he became president of the Playboy Enterprises production company and helped negotiate the channel’s launch with Cablevision.
In 1986, he became president of Turner Program Services,...
- 9/2/2020
- by Eli Countryman
- Variety Film + TV
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