Bud Greenspan
“I don’t make films about superheroes and sports stars. I make films about people. People who experience hard work, joy and sorrow, success and failure, just like anyone else. We often learn more about human drive, love, and determination from those coming in sixth than from those coming in first.”
Biography
Born September 18, 1926, in New York, Greenspan is the world’s foremost writer, producer, and director of sports films and one of the leading sports historians. He has received seven Emmy Awards and the Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee and is also regarded as the closest thing to the official chronicler of the modern Olympic Games.
Career Highlights
| 1947 | Became sports director at New York City's WMGM (AM), at that time the largest sports radio station in the US |
| 1952 | Made The Strongest Man in the World, a 15-minute feature on weightlifter John Davis |
| 1964 | Filmed Jesse Owens Returns to Berlin |
| 1967 | Formed Cappy Film Productions |
| 1976 | Won his first Emmy for 1976's The Olympiad, 22 hour-long documentary specials on the Olympics (including Jesse Owens Returns to Berlin). The series was broadcast in 80 countries |
| 1977 | Made first docudrama, Wilma, a biography of gold-medalist Wilma Rudolph |
| 1979 | This Day in Sports first aired |
| 1980 | Released Olympic Moments, Olympic Events and Olympic Vignettes |
| 1985 | Presented with Olympic Order Award |
| 1994 | Inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame |
| 1995 | Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America |
| 1996 | Received a George Foster Peabody Award in recognition of "distinguished and meritorious public service." |
| 2004 | Inducted as a special contributor to the United States Olympic Hall of Fame |
| 2006 | Given Al Schoenfield Media Award by International Swimming Hall of Fame |
Link
For more on the films and life of Bud Greenspan visit www.budgreenspan.com
