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{{Short description|American TV producer (1929–2015)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Merv Adelson
| name = Merv Adelson
| image = Mervyn Adelson.jpg
| image = Mervyn Adelson.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption = Adelson in 1985
| birth_name = Mervyn Lee Adelson
| birth_name = Mervyn Lee Adelson
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|10|23}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|10|23}}
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles, California]]
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|09|08|1929|10|23}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|09|08|1929|10|23}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| occupation = {{hlist|real estate developer|television producer}}
| other_names =
⚫
| years_active = 1950–2015
| occupation = Real Estate Developer, Television Producer
⚫
| known_for = Co-founder of [[Lorimar Television]]
⚫
| years_active = 1950–2015
⚫
| notable_works =
⚫
| known_for = Co-founder of [[Lorimar Television]]
| spouse = {{plainlist|
⚫
| notable_works =
| spouse = Lori Kaufman (divorced)<br> Gail Kenaston (divorced)<br> {{marriage|[[Barbara Walters]]|1981|1984|reason=divorced}}; {{marriage||1986|1992|reason=divorced}}<br> Thea Nesis (divorced)
* {{marriage|Lori Kaufman|||end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Gail Kenaston|||end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Barbara Walters]]|1981|1984|reason=divorced}}{{marriage||1986|1992|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Thea Nesis|||end=divorced}}
}}
| children = 5, including [[Andrew Adelson|Andrew]] and [[Gary Adelson|Gary]]
}}
}}
⚫
'''Mervyn Lee''' "'''Merv'''" '''Adelson''' (October 23, 1929 – September 8, 2015) was an American real estate developer and television producer who co-founded [[Lorimar Television]].


⚫
'''Mervyn Lee Adelson''' (October 23, 1929 – September 8, 2015) was an American real estate developer and television producer who co-founded [[Lorimar Television]].
==Biography==
⚫
Adelson was born to a [[American Jews|Jewish]] family<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCJfAIOC2csC&pg=PA179&lpg=PA179&dq=adelson#v=snippet&q=merv%20adelson&f=false|first=John P.|last=Marschall|title=Jews in Nevada: A History|pages=180|publisher=University of Nevada Press|date=February 1, 2008|ISBN=9780874177374}}</ref> in [[Los Angeles]] on October 23, 1929 to Nathan and Pearl Adelson (née Swartz). His parents were the children of [[Russians|Russian]] immigrants who had settled in [[Nebraska]]. He worked in a grocery store run by his family as a child.<ref name=NYTimes>{{cite news|last1=Weber|first1=Bruce|title=Merv Adelson, Daring TV Producer, Dies at 85|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/11/business/media/merv-adelson-daring-tv-producer-dies-at-85.html?_r=0|accessdate=September 11, 2015|work=New York Times|date=September 11, 2015}}</ref>


==Early life==
In the 1950s Adelson established himself in [[Las Vegas]] where he first met [[Irwin Molasky]] and [[Moe Dalitz]]. The trio were responsible for building the [[Las Vegas Country Club]] as well as what became [[Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center]]. Molasky and Adelson later opened [[Omni La Costa Resort and Spa]] in 1965. Adelson soon left the real estate industry and co-founded [[Lorimar Television]] with Molasky and [[Lee Rich]] in 1969.
⚫
Adelson was born to a [[American Jews|Jewish]] family<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCJfAIOC2csC&q=merv+adelson&pg=PA179|first=John P.|last=Marschall|title=Jews in Nevada: A History|pages=180|publisher=University of Nevada Press|date=February 1, 2008|isbn=9780874177374}}</ref> in [[Los Angeles]] on October 23, 1929 to Nathan and Pearl Adelson (née Swartz). His parents were the children of immigrants from [[Russia]] who had settled in [[Nebraska]]. When he was a child, he worked in a grocery store run by his family.<ref name=NYTimes>{{cite news|last1=Weber|first1=Bruce|title=Merv Adelson, Daring TV Producer, Dies at 85|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/11/business/media/merv-adelson-daring-tv-producer-dies-at-85.html?_r=0|accessdate=September 11, 2015|work=New York Times|date=September 11, 2015}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Career==
In the 1950s Adelson established himself in [[Las Vegas]] where he first met [[Irwin Molasky]] and [[Moe Dalitz]].<ref name="lasvegassunallard">Ed Koch, [http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/sep/01/desert-inn-stardust-chief-helped-integrate-las-veg/ Desert Inn, Stardust chief helped integrate Las Vegas Strip], ''[[Las Vegas Sun]]'', September 1, 2008</ref> The trio were responsible for building the [[Las Vegas Country Club]] as well as what became [[Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center]].<ref name="lasvegassunallard"/> Molasky and Adelson later opened [[Omni La Costa Resort and Spa]] in 1965. Adelson soon left the real estate industry and co-founded [[Lorimar Television]] with Molasky and [[Lee Rich]] in 1969.<ref name=Var>{{cite news|title=Lorimar Co-Founder and TV Mogul Merv Adelson Dies at 85|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/merv-adelson-dies-dead-full-house-lorimar-1201589568/|accessdate=September 11, 2015|work=Variety|date=September 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-lorimar-company-behind-dallas-668926|title=How Lorimar, the Company Behind 'Dallas' and 'Falcon Crest,' Bred Hollywood's Ruling Executive Class|website=hollywoodreporter.com|date=9 January 2014 |accessdate=31 October 2018}}</ref>
⚫
Adelson was married and subsequently divorced four times. His first wife was Lori Kaufman with whom he had a daughter and two sons:<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news|last1=|first1=|title=Merv Adelson, television producer - obituary|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11861848/Merv-Adelson-television-producer-obituary.html |accessdate=September 1, 2017|work=Daily Telegraph|date=September 13, 2015}}</ref> Ellen Ross, Andrew and Gary.<ref name=LVSObit>{{cite news|last1=Koch|first1=Ed|title=Las Vegas developer turned Hollywood mogul had his share of highs, lows|accessdate=September 1, 2017|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=September 11, 2015}}</ref> His second wife was Gail Kenaston,<ref name=Telegraph /> adopted daughter of silent film star [[Billie Dove]].<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1999/feb/22/news/mn-10531 Los Angeles Times: "Gail Adelson; Hostess, Home Designer to the Stars" by Myrna Oliver] February 22, 1999</ref> His third wife was the television journalist [[Barbara Walters]] to whom he was married from 1981 until 1984. They remarried in 1986 and divorced for the second time in 1992. They met on a blind date.<ref name=NYTimes/><ref name=LATimes>{{cite news|last1=Woo|first1=Elaine|title=Merv Adelson dies at 85; TV mogul and philanthropist|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-merv-adelson-20150911-story.html|accessdate=September 11, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 10, 2015}}</ref> His fourth wife was Thea Nesis<ref name=Telegraph /> with whom he had adopted two daughters, Lexi and Ava Nesis.<ref name=LVSObit /> All his marriages ended in divorce.<ref name=Telegraph />


==Personal life and death==
Adelson died in Los Angeles on September 8, 2015 from cancer, aged 85.<ref name=Var>{{cite news|title=Lorimar Co-Founder and TV Mogul Merv Adelson Dies at 85|url=http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/merv-adelson-dies-dead-full-house-lorimar-1201589568/|accessdate=September 11, 2015|work=Variety|date=September 9, 2015}}</ref>
⚫
Adelson was married and subsequently divorced four times. His first wife was Lori Kaufman with whom he had a daughter and two sons:<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news|title=Merv Adelson, television producer - obituary|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11861848/Merv-Adelson-television-producer-obituary.html |accessdate=September 1, 2017|work=Daily Telegraph|date=September 13, 2015}}</ref> Ellen Adelson Ross, [[Andrew Adelson]], and [[Gary Adelson]].<ref name=LVSObit>{{cite news|last1=Koch|first1=Ed|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/sep/09/las-vegas-developer-turned-hollywood-mogul-had-his/|title=Las Vegas developer turned Hollywood mogul had his share of highs, lows|accessdate=September 1, 2017|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=September 11, 2015}}</ref> His second wife was Gail Kenaston,<ref name=Telegraph /> adopted daughter of silent film star [[Billie Dove]].<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-22-mn-10531-story.html Los Angeles Times: "Gail Adelson; Hostess, Home Designer to the Stars" by Myrna Oliver] February 22, 1999</ref> His third wife was the television journalist [[Barbara Walters]] to whom he was married from 1986 to 1992. They met on a blind date in 1984<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gostin |first=Nicki |date=2024-04-15 |title=Barbara Walters’s career ambitions kept her from true love |url=https://pagesix.com/2024/04/15/entertainment/barbara-walterss-career-ambitions-kept-her-from-true-love/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>.<ref name=NYTimes/><ref name=LATimes>{{cite news|last1=Woo|first1=Elaine|title=Merv Adelson dies at 85; TV mogul and philanthropist|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-merv-adelson-20150911-story.html|accessdate=September 11, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 10, 2015}}</ref> His fourth wife was Thea Nesis<ref name=Telegraph /> with whom he had adopted two daughters, Lexi and Ava Nesis.<ref name=LVSObit /> All his marriages ended in divorce.<ref name=Telegraph />

Adelson died in [[Los Angeles]], on September 8, 2015, from cancer. He was 85.<ref name=Var/>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0011857}}
*{{IMDb name|0011857}}
*{{Find a grave|166250173}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adelson, Merv}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in California]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in California]]
[[Category:American real estate businesspeople]]
[[Category:American businesspeople in real estate]]
[[Category:Adelson family]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:American television producers]]

Latest revision as of 00:26, 6 October 2024

Merv Adelson
Adelson in 1985
Born
Mervyn Lee Adelson

(1929-10-23)October 23, 1929
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedSeptember 8, 2015(2015-09-08) (aged 85)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • real estate developer
  • television producer
Years active1950–2015
Known forCo-founder of Lorimar Television
Spouses
Lori Kaufman
​
(divorced)​
Gail Kenaston
​
(divorced)​
​
​
(m. 1981; div. 1984)​
​
​
(m. 1986; div. 1992)​
Thea Nesis
​
(divorced)​
Children5, including Andrew and Gary

Mervyn Lee Adelson (October 23, 1929 – September 8, 2015) was an American real estate developer and television producer who co-founded Lorimar Television.

Early life

[edit]

Adelson was born to a Jewish family[1] in Los Angeles on October 23, 1929 to Nathan and Pearl Adelson (née Swartz). His parents were the children of immigrants from Russia who had settled in Nebraska. When he was a child, he worked in a grocery store run by his family.[2]

Career

[edit]

In the 1950s Adelson established himself in Las Vegas where he first met Irwin Molasky and Moe Dalitz.[3] The trio were responsible for building the Las Vegas Country Club as well as what became Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.[3] Molasky and Adelson later opened Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in 1965. Adelson soon left the real estate industry and co-founded Lorimar Television with Molasky and Lee Rich in 1969.[4][5]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Adelson was married and subsequently divorced four times. His first wife was Lori Kaufman with whom he had a daughter and two sons:[6] Ellen Adelson Ross, Andrew Adelson, and Gary Adelson.[7] His second wife was Gail Kenaston,[6] adopted daughter of silent film star Billie Dove.[8] His third wife was the television journalist Barbara Walters to whom he was married from 1986 to 1992. They met on a blind date in 1984[9].[2][10] His fourth wife was Thea Nesis[6] with whom he had adopted two daughters, Lexi and Ava Nesis.[7] All his marriages ended in divorce.[6]

Adelson died in Los Angeles, on September 8, 2015, from cancer. He was 85.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Marschall, John P. (February 1, 2008). Jews in Nevada: A History. University of Nevada Press. p. 180. ISBN 9780874177374.
  2. ^ a b Weber, Bruce (September 11, 2015). "Merv Adelson, Daring TV Producer, Dies at 85". New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Ed Koch, Desert Inn, Stardust chief helped integrate Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas Sun, September 1, 2008
  4. ^ a b "Lorimar Co-Founder and TV Mogul Merv Adelson Dies at 85". Variety. September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  5. ^ "How Lorimar, the Company Behind 'Dallas' and 'Falcon Crest,' Bred Hollywood's Ruling Executive Class". hollywoodreporter.com. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d "Merv Adelson, television producer - obituary". Daily Telegraph. September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Koch, Ed (September 11, 2015). "Las Vegas developer turned Hollywood mogul had his share of highs, lows". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  8. ^ Los Angeles Times: "Gail Adelson; Hostess, Home Designer to the Stars" by Myrna Oliver February 22, 1999
  9. ^ Gostin, Nicki (2024-04-15). "Barbara Walters's career ambitions kept her from true love". Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  10. ^ Woo, Elaine (September 10, 2015). "Merv Adelson dies at 85; TV mogul and philanthropist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
[edit]
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