Anthony Thomopoulos

The son of Greek immigrants, he grew up in the Bronx. His father owned a restaurant. Tony was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church. After a high school aptitude test marked Thomopoulos as a potential diplomat, he applied to Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. There, he developed an interest in business instead. After graduating, he worked as a mail clerk at NBC's New York headquarters.

In 1973, Barry Diller hired Thomopoulos at ABC to oversee prime-time programming. He was noted, among other things, for the tough position he took in dealing with the contract holdout of Suzanne Somers on the hit ABC show Three's Company,Tom Shales, [https://web.archive.org/web/20131105214427/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-263644.html "Behind 'Three's Company,' Somers and Smoke"], The Washington Post, May 12, 2003. and for his quick cancellation of the 1982 cult favorite Police Squad!, explaining that the show had been cancelled because, among other reasons, "it required constant attention".Barbara Holsapple, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VuEhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9l4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6972%2C221691 "Do Viewers Need Help With 'Police Squad?'], Pittsburgh Press, July 1, 1982.Steve Weinstein, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-04-ca-2833-story.html "Never Ready for Prime Time? : 'Doctor, Doctor' is the latest wild and crazy comedy to find the going tough on network TV"], Los Angeles Times, March 4, 1990." In June 1983, he was named president of the broadcast group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-12-fi-5102-story.html|title=Thomopoulos Resigns as Head of ABC Unit|date=1985-11-12|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-10}} He resigned as president in 1985 and became chairman of United Artists Pictures,[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1qA_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=T1YMAAAAIBAJ&dq=ferrare%20thomopoulos%20wedding&pg=1730%2C3336957 "Thomopoulos gets new job"], Associated Press in The Vindicator, November 22, 1985.Jack Mathews, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-19-ca-22704-story.html "He Wants to Add New Pages to UA's Illustrious History"], Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1987. where he supervised such productions as Betrayed, Baby Boom, and The Living Daylights.Al Delugach, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-27-fi-2669-story.html "Thomopoulos Resigns as UA Chairman"], Los Angeles Times, September 27, 1988. In 1989, Thomopoulos formed Thomopoulos Productions, an independent production company of both motion pictures and television programs.

From 1991[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-01-fi-808-story.html "Anthony D. (Tony) Thomopoulos has been named to the newly..."], Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1991. to 1995, he was President of Amblin Television, a division of Amblin Entertainment. He was responsible for the original placement of NBC's highly acclaimed program ER, in addition to several other successful series on network television. In 1995, Thomopoulos joined International Family Entertainment, Inc. (IFE). His responsibilities included all aspects of programming for The Family Channel. He was named CEO of MTM Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of IFE, and was also responsible for all aspects of MTM Television and MTM Distribution.Steve Coe, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160115063801/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16627889.html "Thomopoulos to head MTM Entertainment: leaves Amblin with three series on air, including powerhouse 'ER.'"], Broadcasting & Cable, March 6, 1995.

Thomopoulos was chairman and CEO of artist Thomas Kinkade's Media Arts GroupMichael Hiltzik, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-03-fi-goldenstate3-story.html "Future Clouded for 'Painter of Light's' Galleries"], Los Angeles Times, February 3, 2003. from June 2001 to January 2004. He subsequently founded Morning Light Productions.Lauren Beale, [https://www.latimes.com/home/la-xpm-2011-aug-23-la-hm-hotprop-cristina-ferrare-20110823-story.html "Cristina Ferrare, Tony Thomopoulos sell Wilshire Corridor condo"], Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2011.

Thomopoulos's first marriage ended in 1983 after 22 years, and produced three children. In 1985, he married television host Cristina Ferrare.[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20090604,00.html "Leaving Her Trials (and De Lorean) Behind, Cristina Ferrare Weds in a Marriage Made in Private"], People, May 6, 1985. They have two children. As of 2011, they lived in California.

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• {{IMDb name |0859786|Tony Thomopoulos}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140505161216/http://witnesstohistory.georgetown.edu/?p=277 Witness to History: Anthony “Tony” Thomopoulos (F’59)], Georgetown University interview, November 12, 2008 (video)

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{{succession box | title=President of ABC Entertainment | before=Fred Silverman | after=Lewis Erlicht | years=1978-1983}}

{{succession box | title=President of ABC Broadcast Group | before=unknown | after=unknown | years=1983-1985}}

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{{Presidents of American Broadcasting Company Entertainment}}

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Category:1938 births

Category:Living people

Category:Walsh School of Foreign Service alumni

Category:American people of Greek descent

Category:People from Wakefield, Bronx

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:American media executives

Category:American Broadcasting Company executives

Category:Presidents of American Broadcasting Company Entertainment

Category:United Artists people