Robert Wussler, TV Pioneer, Dies at 73

A passing not to be ignored by anyone who has watched TV over the past 40 years or so is that of Robert Wussler, the brilliant televisionary who was a major force both as an executive and a producer over his distinguished career. Mr. Wussler died last week on June 5th, at the age of 73. Although so far CNN has shockingly managed not to cover his death on their own news website -- and remember that Wussler co-founded that network with Ted Turner in 1980 -- other news outlets have noted his importance to the broadcast and cable industry.

In order to understand his contributions to the industry, we suggest reading his obituary here from The Hollywood Reporter, here from Westport Now (Wussler's Connecticut home), and here from TV News Check. We also highly recommend taking at look at the half-hour interview here with Mr. Wussler from March 1980, in which Mr. Wussler sounds, thirty years later, like a man with a crystal ball and a direct line to the future of the TV industry. We also think you'd like to take a look at a few pictures from GettyImages of Mr. Wussler in his producer days at CBS, where he honchoed many of the important science and space coverage during the 1960s. Thrilling and so important.

A brilliant man, gone too soon. Our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.