Howard W. Koch

Howard Winchel Koch (April 11, 1916 – February 16, 2001) was an American director and producer of film and television.

Born in New York City, he attended DeWitt Clinton High School and the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey. He began his film career as an employee at Universal Studios office in New York then made his Hollywood filmmaking debut in 1947 as an assistant director. He worked as a producer for the first time in 1953 and a year later made his directing debut. In 1964, Paramount Pictures appointed him head of film production, a position he held until 1966 when he left to set up his own production company.

Among his numerous television productions, Howard W. Koch produced the Academy Awards show on eight occasions. Dedicated to the industry, he served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1977 to 1979. In 1990 the Academy honored him with The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and in 1991 he received the Frank Capra Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America.

Together with actor Telly Savalas, Howard Koch owned Telly's Pop, winner of several important California races for juveniles including the Norfolk Stakes and Del Mar Futurity.

Howard W. Koch suffered from Alzheimer's disease and died in Los Angeles in 2001. He had two children from a marriage of 64 years and in 2004 his son Hawk Koch was elected to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences's Board of Governors.

Film (producer):

• Shield for Murder (1954)
• Big House, U.S.A. (1955)
• Rebel in Town (1956)
• Frankenstein 1970 (1958)
• The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
• Come Blow Your Horn (1963)
• Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)
• The Odd Couple (1968)
• On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970)
• Plaza Suite (1971)
• Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972)
• Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough (1975)
• The Other Side of Midnight (1977)
• Airplane! (1980)
• Some Kind of Hero (1982)
• Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
• Ghost (1990)

Television (director)

• Maverick
• Hawaiian Eye
• Cheyenne
• The Untouchables
• Miami Undercover
• Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra