von Zerneck, Frank 1940–

(frank Von Zerneck)

PERSONAL

Full name, Francis Ernest von Zerneck; born November 3, 1940, in New York, NY; son of Peter (an actor) and Beatrice (an agent; maiden name, Francis) von Zerneck; married Julie Hawthorne Mannix (a writer and bookstore owner and operator), January 15, 1965; children: Danielle (a producer, actress, and bookstore operator),Francis (Frank), Jr. (a director, writer, actor, and bookstore operator). Education: Hofstra College (now University), B.A., drama, 1962; also attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, New York City.

Addresses: Office—von Zerneck–Sertner Films, 13425 Ventura Blvd., Suite 301, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.

Career: Producer and executive. Worked in live television in New York. JuJamcyn Theatres, New York City, general manager, 1965–70; Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles, cogeneral manager, 1970–74; Moonlight Productions, Hollywood, CA, partner, 1974–84; Frank von Zerneck Films, Studio City, CA, principal, beginning 1983; von Zerneck–Sertner Films, Sherman Oaks, CA, partner (with Robert M. Sertner). League of Resident Theatres of New York City, vice president, 1972–73; California Theatre Council, chair, 1973–74; Allied Communications, Inc. (ACI), member of the board of directors, 1990–95; American Film Institute, guest faculty member; Museum of Radio and Television, New York City, member of the board of directors; consultant to the Foundation for the Extension and Development of American Professional Theatre; Oakhill School, Los Angeles, member of the board of directors, beginning 1984.

Member: Producers Guild of America, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Cable Programming, League of New York Theatres and Producers, Hollywood Television and Radio Society, Caucus of Producers, Writers & Directors (member of council).

Awards, Honors: Emmy Award nomination, outstanding special—drama or comedy, 1977, for "21 Hours at Munich," The ABC Saturday Night Movie; Christopher Award (with others), television film, 1981, for Miracle on Ice; award of merit, National Catholic Broadcasters, 1982; Silver Gavel Award, American Bar Association, 1983; Emmy Award nomination, best miniseries, 1986, for Dress Gray; named television producer of the year, American Film Institute, 1994; certificate of excellence, National Board of Review; some sources state that von Zerneck was named producer of the year, American Film Institute, 1995; some sources cite Golden Globe Award nominations; some sources state that von Zerneck was inducted into the International Television Movie Awards Hall of Fame.

CREDITS

Television Executive Producer; Miniseries:

Dress Gray, NBC, 1986.

Queenie, ABC, 1987.

The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (also known as Earthquake Los Angeles: The Big One and The Great Los Angeles Earthquake), NBC, 1990.

Lady Boss (also known as Jackie Collins's "Lady Boss"), NBC, 1992.

Invasion (also known as Robin Cook's "Invasion"), NBC, 1997.

Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke, CBS, 1999.

Category 6: Day of Destruction, CBS, 2004.

Reversible Errors (also known as Scott Turow's "Reversible Errors"), CBS, 2004.

Category 7: The End of the World, CBS, 2005.

Television Producer; Miniseries:

The End of Oil, ABC, 2008.

Television Executive Producer; Movies:

Sharon: Portrait of a Mistress, NBC, 1977.

Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold, NBC, 1978.

Anatomy of a Seduction, CBS, 1979.

(With others) Portrait of a Stripper (also known as The Secret Life of Susie Hanson), CBS, 1979.

The Babysitter, ABC, 1980.

Return of the Rebels (also known as The Eagle Rock Rebels Ride Again), CBS, 1981.

The First Time, NBC, 1982.

Forbidden Love, CBS, 1982.

Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal, CBS, 1982.

Baby Sister (also known as Tainted Love), ABC, 1983.

Policewoman Centerfold, NBC, 1983.

I Married a Centerfold, NBC, 1984.

Invitation to Hell, ABC, 1984.

Obsessive Love, CBS, 1984.

Summer Fantasy, NBC, 1984.

Challenge of a Lifetime, ABC, 1985.

Final Jeopardy, NBC, 1985.

Hostage Flight, NBC, 1985.

On Our Way, CBS, 1985.

Romance on the Orient Express, NBC, 1985.

Combat High (also known as Combat Academy), NBC, 1986.

Celebration Family, ABC, 1987.

Proud Men (also known as The Tall Men), ABC, 1987.

The Spirit, ABC, 1987.

Lady Mobster, ABC, 1988.

Man against the Mob (also known as Trouble in the City of Angels), NBC, 1988.

Maybe Baby (also known as Sooner or Later), NBC, 1988.

Billy the Kid (also known as Gore Vidal's "Billy the Kid" and The Kid), TNT, 1989.

Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal (also known as The Sex Tapes Scandal and Streetwise), NBC, 1989.

Man against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders (also known as Man against the Mob II: Man in Cement),NBC, 1989.

The Court–Martial of Jackie Robinson, TNT, 1990.

Menu for Murder (also known as Murder at the P.T.A. Luncheon), CBS, 1990.

Opposites Attract (also known as Running Mates), NBC, 1990.

Too Young to Die?, NBC, 1990.

White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd (also known as Hot Toddy), NBC, 1991.

Battling for Baby (also known as Spoiled Rotten), CBS, 1992.

Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer? The Bambi Bembenek Story (also known as The Heart of the Lie), ABC, 1992.

Danger Island (also known as The Island and The Presence), NBC, 1992.

(With others) Fergie and Andrew: Behind Closed Doors (also known as Fergie & Andrew: Behind the Palace Doors and The Royal Divorce), NBC, 1992.

Survive the Savage Sea, ABC, 1992.

Woman with a Past, NBC, 1992.

Beyond Suspicion (also known as Appointment for a Killing), NBC, 1993.

The Broken Chain, TNT, 1993.

Geronimo, TNT, 1993.

The Corpse Had a Familiar Face, CBS, 1994.

French Silk, ABC, 1994.

Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee, TNT, 1994.

Mortal Fear (also known as Robin Cook's "Mortal Fear"), NBC, 1994.

Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan, CBS, 1995.

Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare, Fox, 1995.

The Other Woman, CBS, 1995.

Seduced and Betrayed, NBC, 1995.

Virus (also known as Formula for Death, Robin Cook's"Formula for Death," Robin Cook's "Outbreak," and Robin Cook's "Virus"), NBC, 1995.

The West Side Waltz, CBS, 1995.

Crazy Horse, TNT, 1996.

My Son Is Innocent, ABC, 1996.

No One Would Tell, NBC, 1996.

Terminal (also known as Robin Cook's "Terminal"), NBC, 1996.

Terror in the Family, Fox, 1996.

Tornado!, Fox, 1996.

Dying to Belong, NBC, 1997.

Holiday in Your Heart, ABC, 1997.

Mother Knows Best, ABC, 1997.

Murder Live!, NBC, 1997.

NightScream (also known as Night Scream), NBC, 1997.

Two Came Back, ABC, 1997.

Don't Look Down (also known as Wes Craven Presents"Don't Look Down"), ABC, 1998.

Virtual Obsession (also known as Host), ABC, 1998.

Fatal Error (also known as Reaper), TBS, 1999.

Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story (also known as The Big Heat, Mr. Rock and Roll, and Mr. Rock and Roll: The Alan Freed Story), NBC, 1999.

A Murder on Shadow Mountain, CBS, 1999.

Silent Predators, TBS, 1999.

Nowhere to Land, TBS, 2000.

After Amy (also known as No Ordinary Baby), Lifetime, 2001.

Inside the Osmonds (also known as The Osmonds), ABC, 2001.

Robin Cook's "Acceptable Risk" (also known as Acceptable Risk), TBS, 2001.

Three Days, ABC Family Channel, 2001.

Within These Walls, Lifetime, 2001.

Heart of a Stranger, Lifetime, 2002.

Just a Walk in the Parka, ABC Family Channel, 2002.

Scared Silent, Lifetime, 2002.

They Shoot Divas, Don't They?, VH1, 2002.

We Were the Mulvaneys, Lifetime, 2002.

Defending Our Kids: The Julie Posey Story, Lifetime, 2003.

The Elizabeth Smart Story (also known as Kidnapped: The Elizabeth Smart Story), CBS, 2003.

Killer Instinct: From the Files of Agent Candice DeLong (also known as Killer Instinct), Lifetime, 2003.

More Than Meets the Eye: The Joan Brock Story, Lifetime, 2003.

See Jane Date, ABC Family Channel, 2003.

Tempted (also known as A Mother's Choice and Returning Lily), Lifetime, 2003.

Gracie's Choice (also known as Gracie's Choice: A Story of Love), Lifetime, 2004.

I Do (but I Don't), Lifetime, 2004.

The Mystery of Natalie Wood (also known as Natalie Wood—Hollywood's Last Child), ABC, 2004.

"Naughty or Nice," The Wonderful World of Disney, ABC, 2004.

While I Was Gone, CBS, 2004.

Ambulance Girl, Lifetime, 2005.

Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, ABC, 2005.

Haunting Sarah, Lifetime, 2005.

The Hunt for the BTK Killer, CBS, 2005.

Locusts (also known as Locusts: Day of Destruction), CBS, 2005.

Mom at Sixteen, Lifetime, 2005.

Spring Break Shark Attack (also known as Dangerous Waters: Shark Attack), CBS, 2005.

Vampire Bats, CBS, 2005.

Vinegar Hill, CBS, 2005.

Fatal Desire (also known as Fatal Error), Lifetime, 2006.

For One Night, Lifetime, 2006.

Relative Chaos, ABC Family Channel, 2006.

Girl, Positive (also known as Girl Posi+l've), Lifetime, 2007.

The Circuit, ABC Family Channel, 2008.

Flirting with 40, Lifetime, 2008.

Queen Sized, Lifetime, 2008.

Racing for Time, Lifetime, 2008.

Television Producer; Movies:

The Desperate Miles, ABC, 1975.

"21 Hours at Munich," The ABC Saturday Night Movie, ABC, 1976.

Escape from Bogen County, CBS, 1977.

Getting Married, CBS, 1978.

Disaster on the Coastliner, ABC, 1979.

Portrait of an Escort (also known as Professional Date), CBS, 1980.

Miracle on Ice, ABC, 1981.

In the Custody of Strangers, ABC, 1982.

"To Heal a Nation," G.E. Theater, NBC, 1988.

Take Me Home Again (also known as The Lees Boys Tell), NBC, 1994.

Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack (also known as Cadillac Jack), CBS, 1998.

Just a Walk in the Parka, ABC Family Channel, 2002.

Vampire Bats, CBS, 2005.

The Natalee Halloway Story, Lifetime, 2009.

Worked on other projects.

Television Producer; Specials:

Produced one–act plays for CBS Cable.

Television Executive Producer; Pilots:

Flatbed Annie and Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers (also known as Flatbed Annie and Girls of the Road), CBS, 1979.

Co–executive producer, The Texas Rangers, NBC, 1981.

Night Partners, CBS, 1983.

"Sniff," CBS Summer Playhouse, CBS, 1988.

Television Producer; Pilots:

Delta County, U.S.A., ABC, 1977.

Film Co–Executive Producer:

Living in Oblivion, Columbia/TriStar, 1995.

Film Appearances:

Winfield Carmichael, Tunnel Vision (also known as Tunnel vision), World Wide Pictures, 1976.

Stage Producer:

Me and Bessie (musical revue; also known as Me and Bessie: A Musical Evening), Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1975, Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1975, and Edison Theatre, New York City, 1975–76.

I Have a Dream, Ambassador Theatre, 1976.

A Sense of Humor, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, 1983.

Producer of other productions, including other productions for the Center Theatre Group.

Major Tours Producer:

Me and Bessie (musical revue; also known as Me and Bessie: A Musical Evening), national tour, 1977.

A Sense of Humor, national tour, 1983–84.