Roots
Gerald Fried, ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Roots’ Composer, Dies at 95
Gerald Fried, the Oscar-nominated, oboe-playing composer who created iconic gladiatorial fight music for the original Star Trek series and collaborated with Quincy Jones to win an Emmy for their theme to the landmark miniseries Roots, has died. He was 95. Fried died Friday of pneumonia at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut, his wife, Anita […]
- By
Austin Stoker, Star of John Carpenter’s ‘Assault on Precinct 13,’ Dies at 92
Austin Stoker, the actor from Trinidad who starred as the heroic cop battling a band of marauding gang members inside a decommissioned police station in the John Carpenter thriller Assault on Precinct 13, has died. He was 92. Stoker died Friday of renal failure on his birthday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his […]
- By
Donald A. Ramsey, Associate Producer on ‘Roots,’ Dies at 86
Donald A. Ramsey, who worked on kids shows from Sid and Marty Krofft and served as an associate producer on the landmark 1977 miniseries Roots, has died. He was 86. Ramsey died Dec. 30 in Santa Barbara of complications from congestive heart failure, his life companion, Wade Hansen, announced. Starting in 1969, Ramsey was a […]
- By
John Erman, Emmy-Winning Director and Frequent Ann-Margret Collaborator, Dies at 85
John Erman, the Emmy-winning director who worked on Roots, That Girl, Peyton Place, Star Trek, The Fugitive and M*A*S*H during his 40-plus years in television, died June 25 in New York after a brief illness, a publicist announced. He was 85. A 10-time Emmy nominee, Erman won his statuette for helming the 1983 ABC telefilm […]
- By
‘Just As I Am’: 9 Takeaways From Cicely Tyson’s Memoir
In her new memoir, out Tuesday, the legendary actress details notable moments from both her personal and professional life, including her relationship with jazz legend Miles Davis and her standout roles in 'Roots,' 'Sounder' and more.
- By
LeVar Burton Celebrates ‘Roots’ Anniversary With Production Anecdotes
"Thank you, Alex Haley for fulfilling the fullness of your destiny and sharing your family’s story with all of us," the actor says.
- By
’40 Years a Prisoner’: TV Review
Tommy Oliver's HBO documentary '40 Years a Prisoner' looks at the conflict between MOVE and the city of Philadelphia through one man's search for justice.
- By
Billy Idol, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots Perform “At-Home” Version of “Dancing With Myself”
Billy Idol, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots performed Idol's "Dancing With Myself" using home appliances and kitchen tools as instruments during Thursday's episode of 'The Tonight Show.'
- By
The Roots Founders Ink Universal TV First-Look Deal
The Roots founders Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and Tarik "Black Thought" Trotter are expanding their relationship with NBC. The duo will develop scripted and unscripted series and specials for multiple platforms.
- By
Sting, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots Perform “At-Home” Version of “Don’t Stand So Close to Me”
Sting, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots used household objects including sneakers, wooden spoons, hair picks, pot lids and jar shakers to perform The Police's song "Don't Stand So Close to Me."
- By
Fred Silverman, Legendary Television Programmer, Dies at 82
Fred Silverman, whose talent for picking shows like 'All in the Family,' 'The Waltons,' 'Charlie’s Angels,' 'Roots' and 'Hill Street Blues' earned him the nickname "The Man With the Golden Gut" as the only executive to program for CBS, ABC and NBC, has died. He was 82.
- By
Jonas Brothers, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots Perform “Sucker” With Classroom Instruments
The Jonas Brothers are the latest band to give their hit song a classroom twist on 'The Tonight Show.' Watch the band performe "Sucker" on the late night show.
- By