Sam Strangis, the esteemed director and producer known for his pivotal roles in iconic television shows like “CSI,” “The Brady Bunch,” and “Happy Days,” passed away on July 23 due to kidney failure at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, California. He was 95 years old.
Strangis launched his career as a script supervisor at Revue Studios before directing episodes of “The Restless Gun” from 1957 to 1959. He transitioned to become a production manager for the 1966 film “Batman: The Movie” and later took on the role of head of production at Paramount Studios.
During his tenure at Paramount, Strangis oversaw beloved shows such as “The Odd Couple,” “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Love,” “American Style,” and “Mannix.” He and his producing partner, Don Boyle, later moved to Universal Studios to work on the iconic series “Six Million Dollar Man.” Strangis also produced various television films before returning to Paramount as vice president of television production.
In addition, he founded Ten-Four Productions, which specialized in TV movies, including “Reason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story,” “Rainbow Warrior,” and “Rainbow,” the latter depicting the life of Judy Garland.
Strangis’s remarkable career culminated in his work as a producer on the hit series “CSI” and “CSI: Miami,” where he was part of the team nominated for several prestigious awards, including the Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, daughter Debi, sons Gary and Greg, sisters Judy and Cindy, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on August 22 at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Brentwood, California.
