Matthew Rapf

{{Infobox person | name = Matthew Rapf | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|10|22}} | birth_place = New York, New York | death_date = {{Death date and age|1991|12|11|1920|10|22}} | death_place = Malibu, California | resting_place = Hillside Memorial Park | other_names = | occupation = Film and television producer, screenwriter | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | father = Harry Rapf | relatives = Maurice Rapf (brother) | spouse = Carol Rapf | children = | awards = | alma_mater = Dartmouth College }} '''Matthew Rapf''' (October 22, 1920 – December 11, 1991) was an American film and television producer and screenwriter. He was best known for producing ''The Loretta Young Show'', ''Ben Casey'', and ''Kojak''.

==Biography== Matthew Rapf was born in New York City on October 22, 1920,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5SUIAQAAMAAJ&q=%22October+22%2C+1920%22 |title=The Hollywood Reporter, Volume 320, Issues 18-34 |publisher=Wilkerson Daily Corporation |page=548 |year=1991 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="LATimes1991-12-12">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30461266/rapf_matthew/ |title=Rapf, Matthew |work=Los Angeles Times |page=A36 |date=December 12, 1991 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> the son of MGM film producer Harry Rapf. His brother Maurice was a screenwriter (blacklisted in the 1940s) and film professor.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/18/arts/maurice-rapf-88-screenwriter-and-film-professor.html |title=Maurice Rapf, 88, Screenwriter and Film Professor |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=April 18, 2003 |access-date=April 10, 2019}}</ref>

After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1942, he served as a lieutenant (junior grade) in the U.S. Navy during World War II.<ref name="LATimes1991-12-12"/><ref name="NYT1991–12–18">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/18/obituaries/matthew-rapf-producer-71.html |title=Matthew Rapf, Producer, 71 |work=The New York Times |date=December 18, 1991 |access-date=April 10, 2019}}</ref> Returning to civilian life, he followed in his father's and brother's footsteps into filmmaking and was hired by MGM to be part of a production group headed by Charles Schnee.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30463892/fairbanks_will_make_episode_film/ |title=Fairbanks Will Make Episode Film; Schary Boosts Young Producers |first=Edwin |last=Schallert |work=Los Angeles Times |page=31 |date=January 30, 1952 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> His first credit was for writing and producing the 1948 Western ''Adventures of Gallant Bess''.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FmxCAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Matthew+Rapf%22 |title=Motion Picture Herald |publisher=Quigley Publishing Company |page=42 |year=1948 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |via=Google Books}}</ref> In 1952 he wrote and produced the noir film ''The Sellout''.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Na3l7xoV3LoC&pg=PA12 |title=Screen World Vol. 4 1953 |first=Daniel |last=Blum |publisher=Biblo & Tannen Publishers |isbn=9780819602596 |page=12 |year=1969 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |via=Google Books}}</ref> After this he worked primarily as a producer, on films such as ''Big Leaguer''<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30460997/movie_group_pushes_plans_in_melbourne/ |title=Movie Group Pushes Plans In Melbourne |work=Orlando Evening Star |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=11 |date=February 10, 1953 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> and ''Half a Hero''.

Rapf next moved into television, signing a long-term contract with NBC in 1955,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ij4oAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Matthew+Rapf%22 |title=Broadcasting |publisher=Cahners Publishing Company |page=101 |year=1955 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |via=Google Books}}</ref> and producing series for them such as ''The Great Gildersleeve'', ''Frontier'', ''Jefferson Drum'', and ''Ben Casey''.<ref name="NYT1991–12–18"/>

In 1973 he produced the TV film ''The Marcus-Nelson Murders'', starring Telly Savalas as police lieutenant Theo Kojak. Though not originally intended as a pilot, it became the basis of one of Rapf's most successful series, ''Kojak''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30466182/movie_of_the_week_becomes_a_regular/ |title=Movie of the Week becomes a regular |work=The Anniston Star |agency=AP |location=Los Angeles |date=July 18, 1973 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He would be nominated for three Emmy Awards for his work on the film and show.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/matthew-rapf |title=Matthew Rapf |publisher=Emmy Awards |access-date=April 10, 2019}}</ref>

He was married to prominent real estate agent Carol Rapf.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30470644/rapf_carol/ |title=Rapf, Carol |work=Los Angeles Times |page=B12 |date=August 24, 2000 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

Matthew Rapf died in Malibu on December 11, 1991, after a bout of influenza.<ref name="LATimes1991-12-12"/><ref name="NYT1991–12–18"/>

==Filmography==

===Film=== {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * 1948 ''Adventures of Gallant Bess'' (screenwriter, producer) * 1951 ''No Questions Asked'' (associate producer) * 1952 ''The Sellout'' (story, producer) * 1952 ''Desperate Search'' (producer) * 1953 ''Big Leaguer'' (producer) * 1953 ''Half a Hero'' (producer)

===Television=== * 1953–1954 ''The Loretta Young Show'' (producer) * 1953–1954 ''The Web'' (producer) * 1955 ''The Challenge'' (TV movie; producer) * 1955–1956 ''The Great Gildersleeve'' (producer) * 1955–1956 ''Frontier'' (producer) * 1957 ''The Web'' (producer) * 1958 ''Jefferson Drum'' (producer) * 1960 ''Two Faces West'' (producer) * 1961–1964 ''Ben Casey'' (producer) * 1964–1965 ''Slattery's People'' (producer) * 1967–1968 ''Iron Horse'' (executive producer) * 1968 ''Shadow on the Land'' (TV movie; producer) * 1970–1971 ''The Young Lawyers'' (producer) * 1971 ''Terror in the Sky'' (TV movie; producer) * 1972 ''Hardcase'' (TV movie; producer) * 1973 ''The Marcus-Nelson Murders'' (TV movie; producer) * 1973–1978 ''Kojak'' (story, producer) * 1975 ''Crime Club'' (TV movie; executive producer) * 1975 ''One of Our Own'' (TV movie; executive producer) * 1975–1976 ''Doctors' Hospital'' (executive producer) * 1976–1977 ''Switch'' (executive producer) * 1979 ''Doctors' Private Lives'' (miniseries; producer) * 1979 ''Eischied'' (supervising producer) * 1981 ''Gangster Wars'' (TV movie; executive producer) * 1981 ''The Gangster Chronicles'' (miniseries; executive producer) }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|0710682}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rapf, Matthew}} Category:1920 births Category:1991 deaths Category:20th-century American male writers Category:20th-century American naval officers Category:American male screenwriters Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II Category:Dartmouth College alumni Category:Deaths from influenza in the United States Category:Film producers from New York (state) Category:Screenwriters from New York (state) Category:Television producers from New York City Category:Writers from New York City Category:20th-century American screenwriters