# Howard W. Koch

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 was involved in the production and direction of numerous films throughout his career, 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".
Koch is 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 in New York City. His family was Jewish. 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, Howard W. Koch produced the Academy Awards show on eight occasions. 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, Howard Koch owned the thoroughbred racehorse Telly's Pop, winner of several important California races for juveniles including the Norfolk Stakes and Del Mar Futurity.
Howard W. 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.

## Filmography
### Director

Film (director)
* Shield for Murder (1954)
* Big House, U.S.A. (1955)
* Untamed Youth (1957)
* Bop Girl Goes Calypso (1957)
* Jungle Heat (1957)
* The Girl in Black Stockings (1957)
* Fort Bowie (1957)
* Violent Road (1958)
* Frankenstein 1970 (1958)
* Born Reckless (1958)
* Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958)
* The Last Mile (1959)
* Badge 373 (1973)
Television (director)
* Maverick (1957) (1 episode)
* Hawaiian Eye (1959) (2 episodes)
* Cheyenne (1958) (1 episode)
* The Untouchables (1959) (4 episodes)
* The Gun of Zangara (1960) (TV movie taken from The Untouchables (1959 TV series))
* Miami Undercover (1961) (38 episodes)
* Texaco Presents Bob Hope in a Very Special Special: On the Road with Bing (1977)

### Producer

Film (producer):
* War Paint (1953)
* Beachhead (1954)
* Shield for Murder (1954)
* Big House, U.S.A. (1955)
* Rebel in Town (1956)
* Frankenstein 1970 (1958)
* Sergeants 3 (1962)
* The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
* Come Blow Your Horn (1963)
* Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)
* The Odd Couple (1968)
* On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970)
* A New Leaf (1971)
* Plaza Suite (1971)
* Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972)
* Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough (1975)
* The Other Side of Midnight (1977)
* Airplane! (1980)
* Some Kind of Hero (1982)
* Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
* Ghost (1990)
Television (producer)
* Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra (1973)