Alan Sacks (1943 – October 22, 2024) was an American executive producer, most well known as producer and co-creator of the television series ''

Welcome Back, Kotter ''Welcome Back, Kotter'' is an American sitcom starring Gabe Kaplan as a high-school teacher in charge of a racially and ethnically diverse remedial education class nicknamed the Sweathogs. Recorded in front of a live studio audience, the ser ...

''. He managed the band Unlocking the Truth.

Disney

Alan Sacks produced a string of films for the

Disney Channel Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...

, starting with '' Smart House'' in 1999. He followed it up with the

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award catego ...

Award-winning '' The Color of Friendship'' in 2000. He was executive producer of ''

Camp Rock ''Camp Rock'' is a 2008 musical television film directed by Matthew Diamond from a screenplay by Karin Gist, Regina Hicks, Julie Brown, and Paul Brown. The 73rd Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), the film stars Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, ...

'' and '' Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam'', starring

Demi Lovato Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato ( ; born August 20, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. After appearing on the children's television series ''Barney & Friends'' (2002–2004), she starred in the Disney Channel short series ...

and the

Jonas Brothers The Jonas Brothers () are an American pop rock band formed in 2005 comprising brothers Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas. Raised in Wyckoff, New Jersey, the Jonas Brothers moved to Little Falls, New Jersey, in 2005, where they wrote thei ...

. He also produced the supervised television series '' Jonas''. Among his other Disney Channel projects, they include '' The Other Me'', ''

Pixel Perfect ''Pixel Perfect'' is a 2004 American Science fiction film, science fiction comedy film released as a List of Disney Channel original films#Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney Channel Original Movie. It aired in the United States on January 1 ...

'', and '' You Wish!''. In 2009, he produced the film '' Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience''.

Television

Sacks helped develop and co-create ''

'' with

Gabe Kaplan Gabriel Weston Kaplan (born March 31, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, and professional poker player. He played the title character in the 1970s sitcom '' Welcome Back, Kotter''. He later became a professional poker player and a commentat ...

in 1975, based on Kaplan's stand-up routine about his high school buddies in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

. He also worked on ''

Chico and The Man ''Chico and the Man'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC for four seasons from September 13, 1974, to July 21, 1978. It stars Jack Albertson as Ed Brown (the Man), the cantankerous owner of a run-down garage in an East Los ...

'', a show created by ''

'' executive producer

James Komack James Komack (August 3, 1924 – December 24, 1997) was an American television producer, director, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known for producing several hit television series, including '' The Courtship of Eddie's Father'', ''Chico and ...

. In 1991, he created and produced a short-lived Saturday morning children's show built around the comedy and western band Riders In The Sky. He produced a number of made-for-television movies in the 70's and 80's, including '' Women at West Point'' in 1979; ''

Twirl Twirl may refer to: * TWIRL, The Weizmann Institute Relation Locator, a hypothetical hardware device * Twirl (chocolate bar), a brand of chocolate bar manufactured by Cadbury * ''Twirl'' (film), a 1981 movie about baton twirlers starring Erin M ...

'' in 1981; '' Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story'' in 1982; and '' A Cry for Love'' among others.

Film projects

In 1984, after a project involving the band

The Runaways The Runaways were an American rock band who recorded and performed from 1975 to 1979. Formed in 1975 in Los Angeles, the band released four studio albums and one live album during its run. Among their best-known songs are " Cherry Bomb", " Holl ...

imploded, he took the footage and incorporated it into a plot about a director working under the gun to finish a movie starring

Joan Jett Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin; September 22, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actress. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music#J, Godmother of Punk", she is regarded as a Pop icon, rock icon and ...

. The resulting film, '' Du-Beat-e-o'', set against the backdrop of the then-burgeoning L.A.

Hardcore Punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...

scene, starred

Ray Sharkey Raymond Sharkey Jr. (November 14, 1952 – June 11, 1993) was an American stage, film and television actor. His most notable film role was Vincent Vacarri in the 1980 film '' The Idolmaker'', for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best A ...

and Derf Scratch of the band

Fear Fear is an unpleasant emotion that arises in response to perception, perceived dangers or threats. Fear causes physiological and psychological changes. It may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the ...

. In 1986, he wrote and produced the skateboarding film ''

Thrashin' ''Thrashin (released in the Philippines as ''Challenge to Win: Thrashin) is a 1986 American skater drama film directed by David Winters and starring Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler, and Pamela Gidley. The film features appearances from many famou ...

'' starring

Josh Brolin Josh James Brolin (; born February 12, 1968) is an American actor. A son of actor James Brolin, he gained fame in his youth for his role in the adventure film ''The Goonies'' (1985). After years of decline, Brolin had a resurgence with his starr ...

Robert Rusler Robert Rusler (born September 20, 1965) is an American film and television actor. He made his film debut in the teen comedy '' Weird Science'' (1985) and subsequently appeared in the horror films '' A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge'' ...

, and

Pamela Gidley Pamela Catherine Gidley (June 11, 1965 – April 16, 2018) was an American actress and model. She began her career as an actress in 1986, debuting in the film ''Thrashin' (film), Thrashin, before appearing in a number of films, including ''Dud ...

. The film is notable for featuring a music performance by the original incarnation of the band

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...

. Sacks also produced several documentaries, including '' Elko: The Cowboy Gathering'', in 1994, and the video '' His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Compassion as a Source Of Happiness'' in 2007.

Theater

Sacks wrote, directed, and co-produced the

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

production '' Lenny Bruce (In His Own Words)''.

Music

Sacks was a manager of the metal group Unlocking the Truth. He helped the group secure a six-album record deal with

Sony Music Sony Music Entertainment (SME), commonly known as Sony Music, is an American multinational music company owned by Japanese conglomerate Sony Group Corporation. It is the recording division of Sony Music Group, with the other half being the ...

worth upwards of $1.7 million.

Personal life and death

Sacks later resided in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

with his wife and youngest daughter. Along with producing, he was also a

professor emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retirement, retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". ...

Los Angeles Valley College Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC, Valley College, or Valley) is a public community college in Los Angeles, California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, ...

. He taught classes on film, television, and broadcasting until his retirement from teaching in 2007. Sacks died from

lymphoma Lymphoma is a group of blood and lymph tumors that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). The name typically refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumours. Signs and symptoms may include enlarged lymph node ...

in New York on October 22, 2024, at the age of 81.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sacks, Alan 1943 births 2024 deaths American television producers Los Angeles Valley College people Deaths from lymphoma in New York (state)