Herbert Brodkin (November 9, 1912 – October 29, 1990) was an American producer and director of film and television.^[1]

Brodkin was best known as the producer of the television showsPlayhouse 90,The Defenders,^[2] the miniseriesHolocaust and the short-lived seriesCoronet Blue.

Brodkin was also the founder and president ofPlautus Productions and also the co-founder of Titus Productions withRobert Berger in 1965.

Brodkin was born to aJewish family^[3] on November 9, 1912, in New York City, the youngest of six children born to parents Adolph (1873 – 1946) and Rose (Gutner) Brodkin.^[4] Brodkin's parents were both born inRussia. His father immigrated from Russia in 1887^[5] and his mother in 1894.^[6] Brodkin had two older brothers; Nathanal and Milton (1904–1970), and three older sisters; Gertrude, Ethel, and Beatrice.^[7]

Brodkin graduated from theUniversity of Michigan with a B.A. in 1934 and from theYale School of Drama in 1940.^[8]

Brodkin started his career as ascenic designer of the 1947Broadway dramaO'Daniel. He was also thescenic designer of many other plays. Eventually, Brodkin would be theproduction manager of the playsTexas, Li'l Darlin, (1949), andSomething About a Soldier, (1962).^[9]

Brodkin began his career in television in 1950 as aset designer atCBS. Brodkin achieved recognition a few years later and became a producer for manyanthology programs of the 1950s includingThe Elgin Hour,The Alcoa Hour,Goodyear Television Playhouse, andStudio One.

Playhouse 90 was one of Brodkin's most memorable production credits. Beginning in 1956, the series was able to put Brodkin's expertise in the theatrical arts at work. The series ended in 1960. Another one of Brodkin's memorable production credits was the 1960scourtroom dramaThe Defenders. The series starredE.G. Marshall andRobert Reed as a father-and-sondefense attorney team who, under the production of Brodkin, dealt with subjects such aseuthanasia andblacklisting, subjects which, at the time, were very touchy for television. Brodkin also became famous for his use ofclose-ups andfast cuts in the series.^[1]

Some of the other television series that Brodkin produced wereBrenner,The Nurses,For the People, andCoronet Blue, (all forCBS),Shane (forABC),^[10] andEspionage (forNBC).^[11]

Brodkin also produced several films throughout his career.

One of those films include the 1981 movieSkokie. Skokie was the true story of constitutional rights inIllinois. The movie's plot was based on the real lifeNSPA Controversy of Skokie, Illinois, in the late 1970s which involved theNational Socialist Party of America. The movie starredDanny Kaye.^[12]

In 1959, Brodkin founded and became the president of Plautus Productions. The company was responsible for series such asBrenner,The Defenders,The Nurses,Espionage,For the People, andCoronet Blue. The production company closed in 1967.

In 1965, Brodkin, along with producerRobert Berger founded Titus Productions. Titus Productions served as the production company for many of the TV shows and films that Brodkin produced including theminiseriesHolocaust in 1978 andDoubletake in 1985, and the moviesSkokie andMandela. The company was acquired by theTaft Entertainment Company in 1981. The studio defunct in 1989.^[1]

Brodkin was married once to Patricia M. Brodkin (May 3, 1917–April 1, 1983).

Brodkin died on October 29, 1990, inNew York City,New York at theMount Sinai Hospital. He died of ananeurysm at the age of 77.^[13] He was eleven days shy of his 78th birthday.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Brodkin. He was survived by his two daughters; Lucinda D. and Brigit A. Brodkin. He was also survived by two older sisters; Pat Cutler, and Beatrice Forrest.^[1]

At Brodkin'salma mater,Yale School of Drama there are two scholarship and graduate programs established by Brodkin. They areThe Herbert H. and Patricia M. Brodkin Scholarship andThe Patricia M. Brodkin Memorial Scholarship.

The Herbert H. and Patricia M. Brodkin Scholarship was established by Herbert and Patricia Brodkin in 1963. The program is given to an outstanding student selected by the faculty of the school.The Patricia M. Brodkin Memorial Scholarship was established in 1983 by Herbert Brodkin, associates and friends in memory of his recently deceased wife Patricia. The program is awarded to a student of the school.^[8]

Brodkin wasposthumously inducted into theTelevision Academy Hall of Fame in 1999. Other inductees that year includedCarl Reiner,Fred Rogers, andFred Silverman.^[14]

• 1956: NominatedEmmy as Best Producer of aLive Television Series forThe Alcoa Hour andGoodyear Television Playhouse (NBC).
• 1968: NominatedEmmy asOutstanding Dramatic Program forCBS Playhouse (CBS).
• 1969: NominatedEmmy asOutstanding Dramatic Program forCBS Playhouse (CBS).
• 1975: NominatedEmmy asOutstanding Special - Drama or Comedy forThe Missiles of October. Shared with Irv Wilson andRobert Berger (ABC).
• 1978: WonEmmy asOutstanding Producer of a Limited Series forHolocaust. Shared withRobert Berger (NBC).
• 1982: NominatedEmmy asOutstanding Drama Special forSkokie (CBS).
• 1987: WonACE as Movie or Miniseries forMurrow.
• 1989: NominatedACE as Movie or Miniseries forMandela (HBO).^[15]

• Sebastian (1968) (Producer)
• The People Next Door (1970) (Producer)

• Herbert Brodkin atIMDb
• The Herbert Brodkin Television Production Files. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

• 1912 births
• 1990 deaths
• International Emmy Founders Award winners
• University of Michigan alumni
• American people of Russian-Jewish descent
• David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University alumni

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