'Willy Wonka' Director Mel Stuart 1928-2012 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 08-10-2012, 10:56 AM

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New York— Mel Stuart, an award-winning documentarian who also directed "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," has died. He was 83.

His daughter, Madeline Stuart, said he died Thursday night of cancer at his home in Los Angeles.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Stuart was associated with David L. Wolper, with whom he established a base of West Coast documentary production at a time when New York filmmakers and TV networks' news divisions dominated the field.

Stuart's documentaries during those years include "The Making of the President 1960," for which he won an Emmy, as well as subsequent explorations of the campaigns in 1964 and 1968. Other programs were "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and the Oscar-nominated "Four Days in November."

His groundbreaking 1973 film "Wattstax" focused on the Wattstax music festival of the previous year and Los Angeles' Watts community in the aftermath of the 1965 riots.

By 1980, Stuart was an independent producer and director whose credits include portraits for PBS' "American Masters" on artist Man Ray and the director Billy Wilder. He was executive producer of the 1980s ABC series "Ripley's Believe It or Not," whose host was Jack Palance.

Airing on PBS in 2005, "The Hobart Shakespeareans" was Stuart's profile of a teacher in inner-city Los Angeles whose fifth-grade class each year performed a play by William Shakespeare.

He produced or directed various dramas, including "The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal," "Ruby and Oswald" and the 1981 TV film "Bill," starring Mickey Rooney and Dennis Quaid, which won a Golden Globe and a Peabody award.

The 1971 musical fantasy "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," starring Gene Wilder, was Stuart's response to a young reader of the Roald Dahl children's classic "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." That fan was Stuart's daughter Madeline, who asked her dad to make a movie of the book she loved. With Wilder as Willy Wonka (and 11-year-old Madeline in a cameo role as a student in a classroom scene), it became an enduring family favorite.

Other features include Stuart's 1969 comedy-romance "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium," starring Suzanne Pleshette and Ian McShane.

A New York native, Stuart attended New York University, where he set aside his early aspirations to be a composer in favor of a career in filmmaking.

Before joining forces with the Wolper Organization, he was a researcher for CBS News' 1950s documentary series, "The 20th Century," which was hosted and narrated by Walter Cronkite.

Besides his daughter, an interior designer, Stuart is survived by sons Andrew, a literary agent, and Peter, a filmmaker.

Marvo301 · 08-10-2012, 01:35 PM

Mel Stuart

Schmoopie · 08-12-2012, 06:54 AM

That's a shame. I hope his Heaven looks just like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory!

Brad Russ · 08-12-2012, 07:24 AM

Great movie, and a great director. Rest In Peace Mr. Stuart!!!

angiefan · 08-12-2012, 05:46 PM

i loved that movie, i loved how the candy was being made in the beginning of the movie,

08-10-2012, 10:56 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,439	'Willy Wonka' Director Mel Stuart 1928-2012 Link New York— Mel Stuart, an award-winning documentarian who also directed "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," has died. He was 83. His daughter, Madeline Stuart, said he died Thursday night of cancer at his home in Los Angeles. During the 1960s and 1970s, Stuart was associated with David L. Wolper, with whom he established a base of West Coast documentary production at a time when New York filmmakers and TV networks' news divisions dominated the field. Stuart's documentaries during those years include "The Making of the President 1960," for which he won an Emmy, as well as subsequent explorations of the campaigns in 1964 and 1968. Other programs were "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and the Oscar-nominated "Four Days in November." His groundbreaking 1973 film "Wattstax" focused on the Wattstax music festival of the previous year and Los Angeles' Watts community in the aftermath of the 1965 riots. By 1980, Stuart was an independent producer and director whose credits include portraits for PBS' "American Masters" on artist Man Ray and the director Billy Wilder. He was executive producer of the 1980s ABC series "Ripley's Believe It or Not," whose host was Jack Palance. Airing on PBS in 2005, "The Hobart Shakespeareans" was Stuart's profile of a teacher in inner-city Los Angeles whose fifth-grade class each year performed a play by William Shakespeare. He produced or directed various dramas, including "The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal," "Ruby and Oswald" and the 1981 TV film "Bill," starring Mickey Rooney and Dennis Quaid, which won a Golden Globe and a Peabody award. The 1971 musical fantasy "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," starring Gene Wilder, was Stuart's response to a young reader of the Roald Dahl children's classic "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." That fan was Stuart's daughter Madeline, who asked her dad to make a movie of the book she loved. With Wilder as Willy Wonka (and 11-year-old Madeline in a cameo role as a student in a classroom scene), it became an enduring family favorite. Other features include Stuart's 1969 comedy-romance "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium," starring Suzanne Pleshette and Ian McShane. A New York native, Stuart attended New York University, where he set aside his early aspirations to be a composer in favor of a career in filmmaking. Before joining forces with the Wolper Organization, he was a researcher for CBS News' 1950s documentary series, "The 20th Century," which was hosted and narrated by Walter Cronkite. Besides his daughter, an interior designer, Stuart is survived by sons Andrew, a literary agent, and Peter, a filmmaker.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

08-10-2012, 01:35 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Mel Stuart
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

08-12-2012, 06:54 AM	#3
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	That's a shame. I hope his Heaven looks just like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

08-12-2012, 07:24 AM	#4
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	Great movie, and a great director. Rest In Peace Mr. Stuart!!!
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

08-12-2012, 05:46 PM	#5
angiefan happy labor day! Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 15, 2006 Location: grand blanc,michigan Posts: 618	willy wonka director mel stuart 1928-2012 i loved that movie, i loved how the candy was being made in the beginning of the movie,