Woody Fraser, renowned television producer and director, known for revolutionizing entertainment with iconic programs like The Mike Douglas Show and Good Morning America, has passed away at 90. The news was confirmed by his daughter, Stacy, last Saturday (23). More details about his death will be released in the coming days.
With a career spanning five decades, Fraser was one of the most creative and influential minds in American television, especially in the genres of talk shows, variety shows, and news programming. Among his many contributions to the industry were hits like The Dick Cavett Show, That’s Incredible!, The Family Challenge, and The Home Show.
On Sunday, E.V. Di Massa Jr., a longtime collaborator of Fraser, paid an emotional tribute to his friend and mentor in a Facebook post. “My mentor and a true production genius, Woody Fraser, has passed away,” Massa wrote, accompanied by a photo of himself with Fraser. “So many memories… May God embrace him until we have our next production meeting in heaven.”
Fraser began his television career in 1960 as a director at NBC. That same year, he met Mike Douglas, with whom he would create the legendary The Mike Douglas Show. Broadcast from 1961 to 1982, the show became a benchmark, accumulating over 4,000 episodes.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Fraser solidified his reputation as one of the most sought-after producers in the industry, leading projects like The Della Reese Show and Kid Talk. More recently, he was behind series like McEnroe (CNBC) and Huckabee (Fox News), as well as the revival of Home & Family on the Hallmark Channel, which lasted nine seasons until 2021.
Woody Fraser leaves an invaluable legacy in television history and will be remembered as an inspiration for generations of producers. He is survived by eight children and three grandchildren.
