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Mike Gray | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harold Michael Gray (1935-10-26)October 26, 1935 Racine, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | April 30, 2013(2013-04-30) (aged 77) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer |
| Years active | 1969-1996 |
Harold Michael Gray (October 26, 1935 – April 30, 2013)[1] was an American writer, screenwriter, cinematographer, film producer and director.
In 1965, Mike Gray andJim Dennett co-foundedThe Film Group, a Chicago film production company. In 1968, the pair along with editorHoward Alk, produced the award-winning documentaryAmerican Revolution 2 (1969), followed by the trio'sThe Murder of Fred Hampton (1971). The Film Group was also behind the seven part educational series, "Urban Crisis and the New Militants", consisting primarily of footage shot during the production ofAmerican Revolution 2 but also includes footage of ChicagoBlack Panthers members (including future CongressmanBobby Rush) and a 1966 Civil Rights march inCicero, Illinois. This series can be streamed onChicago Film Archives' website andChicago Film Archives's channel onYouTube.
After moving to California, Gray shotThe Gift (1973), a documentary about the life and art ofMarc Chagall then co-wrote, withT. S. Cook andJames Bridges, the screenplay for the nuclear thrillerThe China Syndrome (1979), which film became notable for opening 12 days before theThree Mile Island accident (nuclear reactor meltdown). He also wrote and directedWavelength (1983), an independent science fiction film starringRobert Carradine,Cherie Currie, andKeenan Wynn, with a soundtrack byTangerine Dream.
Gray next co-created the television seriesStarman (1986–87). FollowingStarman, he became series writer/producer for the 1988–89 season ofStar Trek: The Next Generation. Gray was a second unit director onThe Fugitive (1993) and acted as Swizlard inChain Reaction (1996). Gray scriptedThe Zone andForget About Yesterday in 2008, and was working with director Andy Davis and legendary filmmaker,Haskell Wexler on an as yet untitled documentary.[citation needed]
Gray grew up in Indiana and graduated fromPurdue University with a degree in engineering. He later lived inLos Angeles,California with his wife, Carol, a reporter forpublic radio. His son, Lucas, is a storyboard artist forThe Simpsons.[citation needed]
Gray died at his desk April 30, 2013.[citation needed]
