British and American Television and Movie Producer. He produced more than 20 television shows, most of them as an executive producer, that became widely popular on both sides of the Atlantic. He was born in the Ukraine as Louis Winogradsky. In 1912 his family moved to England and settled in London's East End. After leaving school in the early 20s, he became a dancer, and as a double act with Al Gold, another refugee from Ukraine, he toured Britain and other countries. Suffering from damaged knees, he eventually had to give up dancing in the early 1930s, and after a career in theater, he became a television executive. One of his most famous projects was the Biblical epic "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977). It was so highly approved by the Pope John Paul II, that he made Grade a Papal Knight, a rare honor for a Jew. To ensure that the singer and actress Julie Andrews participates in his television series, which he planned to sell to America, Grade agreed to back two films directed by her husband, Blake Edwards, "The Tamarind Seed" and "The Return of the Pink Panther". The second one became a huge success all over the world. Grade's shows - "The Julie Andrews Hour" and "The Muppet Movie" - were widely shown in America and as a result, for the services to export, he was knighted in 1969. Grade was a producer of many other famous shows, among which were "Blood Feud" (1978), "Firepower" (1979), "Green Ice" (1981), "The Lady and the Highwayman" (1989), "Something to believe In" (1998), "Duel of Hearts" (1991). He was made a life peer in 1976 taking the title of Baron Grade of Elstree. He made a promise never to retire and kept it, working until his final illness. He died of heart failure, just few days short of his of his ninety-second birthday.
British and American Television and Movie Producer. He produced more than 20 television shows, most of them as an executive producer, that became widely popular on both sides of the Atlantic. He was born in the Ukraine as Louis Winogradsky. In 1912 his family moved to England and settled in London's East End. After leaving school in the early 20s, he became a dancer, and as a double act with Al Gold, another refugee from Ukraine, he toured Britain and other countries. Suffering from damaged knees, he eventually had to give up dancing in the early 1930s, and after a career in theater, he became a television executive. One of his most famous projects was the Biblical epic "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977). It was so highly approved by the Pope John Paul II, that he made Grade a Papal Knight, a rare honor for a Jew. To ensure that the singer and actress Julie Andrews participates in his television series, which he planned to sell to America, Grade agreed to back two films directed by her husband, Blake Edwards, "The Tamarind Seed" and "The Return of the Pink Panther". The second one became a huge success all over the world. Grade's shows - "The Julie Andrews Hour" and "The Muppet Movie" - were widely shown in America and as a result, for the services to export, he was knighted in 1969. Grade was a producer of many other famous shows, among which were "Blood Feud" (1978), "Firepower" (1979), "Green Ice" (1981), "The Lady and the Highwayman" (1989), "Something to believe In" (1998), "Duel of Hearts" (1991). He was made a life peer in 1976 taking the title of Baron Grade of Elstree. He made a promise never to retire and kept it, working until his final illness. He died of heart failure, just few days short of his of his ninety-second birthday.
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Bio by: julia&keld