Obituary: John Rich / Emmy-winning director of landmark television sitcoms
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As a top television comedy director who won an Emmy directing "The Dick Van Dyke Show" in the early 1960s, John Rich was faced with a tough choice in 1970.
On the same day he received a phone call from Mary Tyler Moore wanting to set up a meeting to discuss his directing the initial episode of her new TV series, he got a call from Norman Lear, who wanted to send him a script for a pilot he was about to produce.
Mr. Rich was impressed with both scripts, but he was shocked by the "unusually explicit language" he found in Mr. Lear's offering.
In the end, Mr. Rich couldn't resist going with the series that he doubted would ever "see the network light of day": Mr. Lear's groundbreaking show about a working-class family in Queens, N.Y., headed by a lovable bigot played by Carroll O'Connor.
Mr. Rich, who won two Emmy Awards while directing and producing "All in the Family" in its first four years, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles after a brief illness, said Sahar Moridani, a Directors Guild of America spokeswoman. He was 86.
Mr. Rich launched his nearly 50-year directing career during the days of live TV in 1953 and soon moved on to filmed series such as "I Married Joan," "Our Miss Brooks," "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza."
He won his first Emmy in 1963 -- for outstanding directorial achievement in comedy -- for "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
Mr. Rich won another Emmy for outstanding directorial achievement in comedy in 1972 for the memorable "All in the Family" episode titled "Sammy's Visit," in which guest star Sammy Davis Jr., appearing as himself, left his briefcase in the cab Archie was driving and dropped by the Bunker home to pick it up.
After getting to know Archie, Davis, who died in 1990, ends his visit by telling a camera-toting Bunker friend that he wants one picture taken with him and Archie. It was Mr. Rich's suggestion to end the scene with what became a classic TV moment: Just as the camera flashes, Davis kisses Archie on the cheek.
First Published February 3, 2012 12:00 am
