Harry S. Ackerman

'Harry S. Ackerman (1912-1991) was a television producer who helped to create such hits as "Gunsmoke," "I Love Lucy" and "Leave It To Beaver."

He was born in Albany and educated at Dartmouth College. He began his career as an advertising executive at Young & Rubicam.

Credits

Ackerman developed "Gunsmoke" and organized the development of "I Love Lucy." He was a co-creator of "Our Miss Brooks" and supervised the show. After a stint with his own production company, he joined Screen Gems, now Columbia Pictures Television, where he worked from 1958 to 1977 on shows including "Dennis the Menace," "The Donna Reed Show," "Hazel" and "The Farmer's Daughter." He was a co-creator of "The Flying Nun" and "Bewitched." His credits include the television anthology series "Studio One" and "Suspense."

Many of Ackerman’s shows have won a new generation of viewers. Reruns of "Bewitched," "Dennis the Mennace" and "The Donna Reed Show" appear on the Nickelodeon cable channel, which specializes in children's programming and nostalgia entertainment.

See also Leave It To Beaver