Grant Tinker, American television executive, Died at 91

  Business

Grant Almerin Tinker was born onJanuary 11, 1925, in Stamford, Connecticut, and died on November 28, 2016.

He was an American television executive.

Tinker served as Chairman and CEO of NBC from 1981 to 1986.

Grant was the son of Margaret (née Hessin) and Arthur Almerin Tinker.

In World War II, Tinker served in the Army Air Forces Reserve.

He graduated from Dartmouth College.

Tinker was the father of producers Mark Tinker and John Tinker.

He married Moore in 1962, and in 1969 they formed the television production company MTM Enterprises.

In the time of creating MTM, Tinker hired Room 222 writers James L. Brooks and Allan Burns to create and produce the company’s first television series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Following that, MTM produced such popular American sitcoms and drama television series such as Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere.

Following his divorce from Moore in 1981, he left MTM to become the chairman and CEO of NBC, then the perennial last-place American television network (in terms of Nielsen ratings and profits).

During his tenure at NBC’s top position, the network regained ratings and produced popular shows like The Cosby Show, Family Ties, The Golden Girls, Cheers, Night Court, and Hill Street Blues.

He left the network in 1986, shortly after its parent company RCA was bought by General Electric.

In 1997, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

He died at his California home.

Grant Almerin Tinker passed away at 91 years old.