Director Harvey Laidman passes away at 82

ANI January 12, 2025 205 views

Harvey Laidman was an incredible television director who made his mark on some of the most beloved shows of the 70s and 80s, including The Waltons and Scarecrow and Mrs King. His career spanned over three decades, during which he directed episodes for numerous iconic series like Hawaii Five-O and Matlock. After his television career, Laidman pursued education, earning a doctorate and teaching filmmaking at Cal State Northridge. He passed away on January 3rd at 82, leaving behind a rich legacy in both entertainment and education.

"From television directing to teaching, Harvey Laidman left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry" - The Hollywood Reporter
Washington, January 12: Harvey Laidman, a veteran TV director who helmed several episodes of series such as The Waltons, Scarecrow and Mrs King, passed away at the age of 82.

Key Points

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Directed numerous popular TV series across three decades

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Transitioned from television to education later in life

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Worked on iconic shows like The Waltons and 7th Heaven

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Earned doctorate and taught filmmaking at Cal State Northridge

Harvey's son, Dan Laidman, told The Hollywood Reporter that his father died of cancer on January 3 in a hospital in Simi Valley.

During his three-decade-plus career, Laidman also directed installments of The Blue Knight, Family, Hawaii Five-O, Hunter, Kojak, Eight Is Enough, The Incredible Hulk, Lou Grant, and others.

Laidman was born in 1942 in Cleveland to a librarian mother and an electrical contractor father. The director developed his foundation in cinema after working with the legendary Kenley Players theatre company in Warren, Ohio, which hosted numerous productions with big-name Broadway, film, and TV stars, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He studied electrical engineering at Kent State before transferring to USC, where he earned a degree in cinema in 1964.

Laidman served as assistant director and unit production manager on the second and third seasons of CBS's The Waltons from 1973-75. After this, he donned the director's cap for 11 episodes of this period drama from 1975-81.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the director also helmed 10 episodes of CBS's Scarecrow and Mrs. King from 1985-87; 33 episodes of NBC/ABC's Matlock from 1988-94; and 16 episodes of The WB's 7th Heaven, from 1996-2004.

Laidman later went back to school to earn a doctorate in education and taught science. From 2011 to 2023, he taught filmmaking at Cal State Northridge.

In addition to his son, survivors include his wife, Susan; his grandchildren, Mira and Talia; and his sister, Laura. A service to honor his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills.

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