A graduate of Carnegie Tech's Theatre Department with a degree in Scenic Design, Gary Smith became the producer of
The Judy Garland Show in 1963. Smith served as Executive Producer of six
Tony Awards telecasts from 1993 through 1997, as well as the 55th, 56th and 57th Annual Tony Awards and the two most recent
Emmy Awards during his tenure. He was responsible for the production of the
Democratic National Convention in 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000;
Baryshnikov on Broadway; an adaptation of
Peter Pan starring Mia Farrow and Danny Kaye; four years of the Emmy Awards; three years of the People's Choice Awards; and five years of the AFI "100 Years" specials. He produced ABC's 24-Hour Millennium coverage;
Command Performances for the
Queen of England; and television specials for
Frank Sinatra,
Luciano Pavarotti, the
Apollo Theatre,
Woody Allen, and
Radio City Music Hall. He produced
President Reagan's Inaugural Gala in 1985 and
President Clinton's in 1993 and 1997. Smith was Executive Producer for most of Barbra Streisand's specials, including the May 2, 2001 telecast of her AFI Life Achievement Award, as well as the AFI Life Achievement Award honoring
Tom Hanks, the
I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary, and
The Mary Tyler Moore Show Reunion. In 2003, he served as Executive Producer on
100 Years of Hope and Humor, which honored
Bob Hope's 100th birthday. In 2009, he produced the opening ceremonies for the
Special Olympic World Winter Games held in Boise, Idaho. ==Death==