Grant Tinker was a television executive and producer who shaped the industry with his innovative and quality shows. He was the co-founder of MTM Enterprises, the production company behind hits such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Hill Street Blues, and St. Elsewhere. He was also the chairman and CEO of NBC from 1981 to 1986, where he revived the network with popular series like The Cosby Show, Cheers, and Family Ties. He died on November 28, 2016, at the age of 90. But what was the cause of his death?
Dementia and Other Factors
According to his son, producer Mark Tinker, Grant Tinker died at his home in Los Angeles, California. No official cause of death was released, but his death certificate listed dementia as one of the factors that contributed to his demise. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental abilities that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It can be caused by various diseases and conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain injury, or infection. Dementia can impair a person’s ability to communicate, perform daily tasks, and enjoy life.
Dementia is not a normal part of aging, but it becomes more common as people get older. According to the World Health Organization, about 50 million people worldwide have dementia, and this number is expected to rise to 82 million by 2030 and 152 million by 2050. There is no cure for dementia, but treatments can help manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life of the patients and their caregivers.
A Legacy of Excellence
Grant Tinker was born on January 11, 1926, in Stamford, Connecticut. He graduated from Dartmouth College and served in the United States Army Air Forces Reserve during World War II. He started his career in radio and then moved to television, where he worked for NBC, Universal Television, and 20th Century Fox Television. He married actress Mary Tyler Moore in 1962 and co-founded MTM Enterprises with her in 1969. The company produced some of the most acclaimed and influential shows in television history, such as The Bob Newhart Show, Rhoda, WKRP in Cincinnati, Lou Grant, and The White Shadow. MTM Enterprises was known for its distinctive logo, featuring a kitten meowing in parody of the MGM lion, and its closing credits, which often included humorous messages or jokes.
Tinker left MTM Enterprises in 1981 to become the chairman and CEO of NBC, which was struggling with low ratings and profits. He implemented a strategy of focusing on quality programming and giving creative freedom to the producers and writers. He also hired talented executives, such as Brandon Tartikoff and Warren Littlefield, who helped him turn the network around. Under his leadership, NBC launched some of the most successful and beloved shows of the 1980s, such as The A-Team, Miami Vice, The Golden Girls, Night Court, and L.A. Law. He also supported the development of innovative and groundbreaking shows, such as Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, and Cheers, which won critical acclaim and numerous awards. He left NBC in 1986, shortly after its parent company RCA was bought by General Electric.
After leaving NBC, Tinker tried to repeat his success with MTM Enterprises by forming GTG Entertainment, but the venture failed and the company closed in 1990. He then retired from the television industry and focused on his personal life. He divorced Mary Tyler Moore in 1981 and married Brooke Knapp in 2004. He had four children, Mark, John, Michael, and Jodie, and several grandchildren. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1997 and received the Peabody Award for his lifetime achievements in 2005. He was widely respected and admired by his peers and colleagues, who praised him for his vision, integrity, and passion. He was also loved by the audiences, who enjoyed his shows and appreciated his contribution to the culture and entertainment.
Grant Tinker was a TV legend who left a lasting mark on the industry and the history of television. He passed away due to dementia and other factors, but his legacy lives on in his shows and his fans. He was a man of no distinct or specific skills, as he modestly said, but he had a lot of help from the people who did the kind of work that the audience appreciates. The success just rubbed off on him.
