Wikipedia

John Landgraf

John Phillip Landgraf (born May 20, 1962) is the Chairman of FX Networks.[1] He is also a member of the Peabody Awards[2] board of directors, which is presented by the University of Georgia's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Previously he was President and General Manager of FX Network, a position he held since 2005.[3] TV critic Alan Sepinwall jokingly refers to Landgraf as "the Mayor of TV".[4]

John Landgraf
John Landgraf in August 2011
Landgraf in August 2011
Born
John Phillip Landgraf

(1962-05-20) May 20, 1962 (age 62)
California, U.S.
Alma materPitzer College (BA)
OccupationTelevision executive
Years active1988–present
EmployerDisney General Entertainment Content (2019–present)
TitleChairman of FX
PredecessorPeter Liguori
Spouse
​
(m. 1997)​
Children3

Early life

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Landgraf was born in California to father John R. Landgraf, Ph.D., a pastor, and Barbara Landgraf (née Joslin).[5] When he was very young, his parents traveled constantly, performing as backup singers for the gospel evangelist Rev. Mel Dibble, who was part of Billy Graham Crusades.[6] When he was 5 years old, his mother completed an M.A. in social work and his father completed his PhD in family counseling.[7] In 1969, when he was seven years old, his parents divorced.[5][8]

After spending much of his childhood moving, Landgraf spent his high school years in Oakland, California, and graduated from Skyline High in 1980.[7][9]

In 1984, Landgraf received a B.A. in Anthropology from Pitzer College, one of the Claremont Colleges.[10]

Career

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Early career

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During and after college, Landgraf did an internship, worked in sales and eventually worked on the production side of the video production company J-Nex Media, a Los Angeles company that made commercial and industrial video.[7]

In 1988, Landgraf was Director of Development at Sarabande Productions, where he eventually became Senior Vice President.[3]

From 1994 to 1999, Landgraf was Vice President of Primetime at NBC where he oversaw the development of The West Wing, and other popular TV shows that included Friends and JAG.[3]

Producing

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Landgraf founded the production company Jersey Television with Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher. Jersey Television was responsible for producing shows like Comedy Central's Reno 911! and Karen Sisco.[3]

FX Network

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In 2004, Landgraf was President of Entertainment of FX Network, responsible for original TV shows that included critically acclaimed shows like The Shield and the Denis Leary-starring show, Rescue Me.[3]

In 2005, Landgraf was promoted to President and General Manager of FX Network, a position that oversees the management FX, FX HD, the Fox Movie Channel and FX Prods.[11] In this position Landgraf is responsible for the operations, programming, development, scheduling, and marketing of the TV channels he oversees.[3]

In 2013, Landgraf launched FXX.[12]

During the 2015 Television Critics Association presentations, Landgraf expressed concern that while television is undergoing a golden age, there is simply too much television.[13][14]

In 2023, Landgraf was put in charge of National Geographic and Onyx Collective programming.[15]

Personal life

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In 1997, Landgraf married actress Ally Walker. They have three sons named Walker, Will, and Cal,[16][7] and live in Santa Monica, California.[17]

Landgraf plays the flute. He also sang in a barbershop quartet during his time at Pitzer College.[7]

Filmography

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  • 1990: Rising Son (TV movie) – associate producer
  • 1992: Those Secrets (TV movie) – co-producer
  • 1995: Mad Love – co-producer
  • 1996: Nightjohn (TV movie) – co-producer
  • 1998: Mind Games (TV movie) – co-producer
  • 2000: Celebrity (TV movie) – executive producer
  • 2001: Kate Brasher (TV series) – executive producer
  • 2002: The American Embassy (TV series) – executive producer
  • 2001–2004: UC: Undercover (TV series) – executive producer, 4 episodes
  • 2002: The Funkhousers (TV movie) – executive producer
  • 2003: Other People's Business (TV movie) – executive producer
  • 2004–2009: Reno 911! – executive producer, 13 episodes
  • 2004: Karen Sisco (TV series) – executive producer, 1 episode; writer, 1 episode: "No One's Girl"
  • 2005–2008: 30 Days – executive producer
  • 2007: Reno 911!: Miami – producer

Awards

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  • 1984–1985: Coro Fellowship
  • Chair Appointee to the Executive Committee of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Board of Governors
  • 2012: NCTA Vanguard Award for Programming[18]
  • 2013: Adweek’s TV Executive of the Year.[19]
  • 2014: Variety's Creative Leadership Award[20][21]

Works and publications

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  • Landgraf, John (4 October 2017). "FX Chief John Landgraf's Memo to Silicon Valley: Brands Matter, Even in Television (Guest Column)". The Hollywood Reporter.

References

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  1. ^ "Business Unit Leaders: John Landgraf, Chief Executive Officer FX Networks and FX Productions". 21st Century Fox. 2017.
  2. ^ "Who We Are". Grady College and University of Georgia. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Fox Networks Group (10 May 2005). "John Landgraf Named President & General Manager, FX Networks". Business Wire. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  4. ^ Sepinwall, Alan; Fienberg, Dan (11 August 2015). "Listen: Firewall & Iceberg Podcast No. 295 – 'True Detective' finale & 'Show Me a Hero'". HitFix. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b "John R Landgraf – California Divorce Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  6. ^ Scheerer, Laura (8 May 1964). "The Leavenworth Times from Leavenworth, Kansas". Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  7. ^ a b c d e Myers, Jack (7 August 2007). "Lunch at Michael's with FX' John Landgraf: Master Story Teller and Industry Leader". Media Village. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Obituaries – Anne Harroun, Interior architect". The Almanac. 26 April 2000. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  9. ^ Abraham, Z (1 August 2010). "Skyline High Reunion was a blast! Tom Hanks and John Landgraf, take note". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Pitzer College Alumnus and Trustee John Landgraf '84 Named CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions". Pitzer College. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  11. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (19 May 2008). "Landgraf stays put atop FX Networks". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  12. ^ "John Landgraf". 26 September 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  13. ^ Koblin, John (30 August 2015). "Soul-Searching in TV Land Over the Challenges of a New Golden Age". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  14. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (7 August 2015). "FX Networks Chief John Landgraf: 'There Is Simply Too Much Television'". Variety. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  15. ^ Steinberg, Brian (February 28, 2023). "Disney TV Reshuffle: Dana Walden Makes First Big Moves as John Landgraf, Simran Sethi Expand Duties". Variety. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Walker, Ally (2021-09-21), Far More (Comedy, Drama), Joshua Rush, Adrian Grenier, Joanna Ranee Wood, Libelula Productions, retrieved 2023-12-12
  17. ^ "John Landgraf – Television Academy Profile". Emmys. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Baker & Kent Top the List of NCTA's 2012 Vanguard Winners". National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  19. ^ Lynch, Jason (28 November 2016). "How Risk-Taking Catapulted FX's John Landgraf to TV Executive of the Year". Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  20. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (28 October 2014). "Variety Honors FX Networks' John Landgraf with Creative Leadership Award". Variety. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  21. ^ Holman, Jordyn (29 October 2014). "Danny DeVito Honors FX's John Landgraf at Variety's Hollywood New Leaders Event". Variety. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
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