Howard Winchel Koch (April 11, 1916 – February 16, 2001) was an American film producer and director. He served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and as head of film production at Paramount Pictures, and directed and produced numerous films, including The Manchurian Candidate (1962), The Odd Couple (1968), Airplane! (1980) and its 1982 sequel, and Ghost (1990). At the 62nd Academy Awards, he was honored the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his "outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes". He also received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, three of which were for producing Academy Awards ceremonies.
Koch was the father of film producer Hawk Koch, and the great-grandfather of actor Cooper Koch and film editor Payton Koch.
Life and career Koch was born on April 11, 1916 in New York City, to a Jewish family. 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. He had a production pact with Paramount for over 15 years.
Among his numerous television productions, Koch produced the Academy Awards show on eight occasions, from the 44th Academy Awards in 1972 to the 55th Academy Awards in 1983 (except in 1974, 1977, 1979 and 1981). 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 at the 62nd Academy Awards and in 1991, he received the Frank Capra Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America.
Together with actor Telly Savalas, Koch owned the thoroughbred racehorse Telly's Pop, winner of several important California races for juveniles including the Norfolk Stakes and Del Mar Futurity.
Koch suffered from Alzheimer's disease and died in at his home in Beverly Hills, California on February 16, 2001. He had two children from a marriage of 64 years to Ruth Pincus, who died in March 2009. In 2004, his son Hawk Koch was elected to the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and in 2013 he became its president, making them the first father and son to serve as presidents of the organization.
Filmography Feature film +YearTitleDirectorProducer1953War Paint1954BeachheadShield for Murder1955Big House, U.S.A.1956Rebel in Town1957Untamed YouthBop Girl Goes CalypsoJungle HeatThe Girl in Black StockingsFort Bowie1958Violent RoadFrankenstein 1970Born RecklessAndy Hardy Comes Home1959The Last Mile1962Sergeants 3The Manchurian Candidate1963Come Blow Your Horn1964Robin and the 7 Hoods1965None but the Brave1968The Odd Couple1970On a Clear Day You Can See Forever1971A New LeafPlaza Suite1972Last of the Red Hot Lovers1973Badge 3731975Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough1977The Other Side of Midnight1980Airplane!1982Some Kind of HeroAirplane II: The Sequel1990Ghost
Television YearTitleDirectorProducerNotes1957Maverick1 episode1958Cheyenne1 episode1959The Untouchables4 episodesHawaiian Eye2 episodes1960The Gun of ZangaraTV movie from The Untouchables1961Miami Undercover38 episodes1973Magnavox Presents Frank SinatraTV special1977Texaco Presents Bob Hope in a Very Special Special: On the Road with Bing
Awards and nominations +YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult1962Directors Guild of America AwardsOutstanding Directorial Achievement in TelevisionThe Untouchables (Episode: "The Unhired Assassin")1974Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music SpecialMagnavox Presents Frank Sinatra1977Outstanding Achievement in Coverage of Special Events — Programs48th Academy Awards1978Outstanding Achievement in Coverage of Special Events — Programs50th Academy Awards1980Outstanding Program Achievement — Special Events52nd Academy Awards1990Academy AwardsJean Hersholt Humanitarian Award1991Directors Guild of America AwardsFrank Capra Achievement Award1995Temecula Valley International Film FestivalLifetime Achievement Award
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