The Patty Duke Show, The Partridge Family: Director Harry Falk Dies at 83

Prolific TV series director, Harry Falk, is dead at the age of 83. His obituary states he died on April 29, 2016. Falk was the first husband of Patty Duke, who passed away March 29, 2016.

Falk got his professional start as an assistant director on The Defenders TV series on CBS (1961) and The Patty Duke Show on ABC (1963-63). It would be on the latter than he is first credited as Director, for a trio of episodes in 1966.

Falk’s TV show résumé is too lengthy to detail here, in full. He directed everything from Get Smart, to The Flying Nun, Love American Style, The Partridge Family, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, Owen Marshall Counselor at Law, The Rookies, McMillan & Wife, The Streets of San Francisco, The Colbys, Dynasty, and Hotel. The last TV series credit on his IMDb profile is for the 1989 “Davy Crockett: A Letter to Polly” episode of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.

Here is Mr. Hawks obituary, from Legacy.com:

 

Harry G. Falk

1933 – 2016

March 5, 1933 – April 29, 2016 TV and Film Director Harry G Falk passed away April 29th in Santa Monica. The son of former NYPD officer turned gaffer, Harry Falk, Sr from Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, Harry began his career as a property master and Assistant Director on commercials, He also worked his way up as an AD on Sidney Lumet’s films “Fail-Safe” and “12 Angry Men.” In addition, he worked with Elia Kazan on “Baby Doll.” In relocating to “the Coast” he began as AD with series like “The Patty Duke Show” and “The Defenders.” His first solo directing opportunity came in 1966 from his beloved friend and mentor, Bob Sweeney, who produced “The Patty Duke Show.” When the star first saw Harry across the room, she told her make-up artist “I’m going to marry that man.” And Patty Duke became his wife for 5 years. He began directing television series in the mid-1960s, and his credits included, “The Doris Day Show,” “Get Smart,” “The Flying Nun,” “Magnum P.I.,” “Owen Marshall, M.D.” “The Rockford Files,” and “The Streets of San Francisco,” to name a few. He directed over 200 television and mini-series, including “The Abduction of Saint Anne”, “Centennial,” “Beulah Land,” His last feature length film was “High Desert Kill”. Beloved by his cast and crew alike, Harry had an efficient, productive, creative, humorous set and was proud of shooting 6 days in 5. “Everyone works better with 2 days off” He lived life his way; uncompromising, unerringly funny, deeply sensitive. He was a shy, irresistible Brooklyn Irish Catholic, a tough street guy disguised by a boyish, engaging, charm that won over his stars, such as Barbara Stanwyk, John Forsythe and Charlton Heston, who’d said that Harry was the best director he’d ever worked with in TV. For his work on “The Streets of San Francisco,” Harry was nominated for an Emmy Award and a DGA Award for his work on the series. He also received an NAACP award for his movie-for-television, “The Sophisticated Gents.” Harry is survived by his wife of 27 years, Candace Falk, his daughter, Sena Falk, 23, of Palm Springs, CA and a nephew, Kerac Falk (Sean Chappell) of New York City, nephews Rick Falk and Frank Ladiera, niece, Linda (Frank) Terricino and her daughter Michelle, sister-in-law, Marion Falk, all of Florida and many cousins. He is preceded in death by his younger brothers, Thomas Falk, an actor/screenwriter, and Richard Falk, a gaffer, and his parents Harry, Sr. and Mildred Falk. Memorial Services will be held on July 16th at 11:00 AM at Pierce Bros Westwood Memorial Park. Donations may be sent to the Director’s Guild Foundation.

 

This marks the third loss from The Patty Duke Show, in recent months. Actor William Schallert, who played Patty’s father, Martin Lane, died May 8, 2016, at the age of 93.

We invite you to share your memories of Mr. Falk’s work, below.