Emmy-Winning Film and TV Helmer Joseph Sargent Passes Away at 89

Variety writes that four-time Emmy and DGA Award winner Joseph Sargent passed away today, December 22, due to complications from heart disease. He was 89.

"When it comes to directing Movies for Television, Joe's dominance and craftsmanship was legendary -- for the past 50 years," Directors Guild of America president Paris Barclay said. "He was unafraid of taking risks, believing in his heart that television audiences demanded the highest quality stories...His biographies demonstrated an exactitude for period accuracy while simultaneously infusing historical figures with true-to-life spirit and passion. Joe once said that he was 'drawn to projects possessing "edge" -- material that can make some comment or contribution to the condition of man,' and it is this 'edge' that is his enduring directorial legacy."

Sargent directed The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, as well as Something The Lord Made, Warm Springs, MacArthur, The Incident, Playing For Time, Miss Rose White, Miss Evers' Boys and Love Is Never Silent.

He started out as an actor and eventually started helping episodes of TV shows such as Gunsmoke, Lassie, Star Trek and more. He won his first Emmy for directing the pilot episode of Kojak, titled "The Marcus-Nelson Murders."

Sargent, who retired at 84, spent his last 10 years on the job as senior filmmaker-in-residence at the American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles and as one of the first professors for Pepperdine University's masters program in film directing.

He also helped co-found Deaf West Theatre with his wife Carolyn, as well as the Free Arts Clinic For Abused Children.

Photo courtesy DGA.org.