Howard West was a producer best known for his work on the classic comedic television series Seinfeld. From 1990 to 1998, West served as an executive producer on 172 episodes of the show, which starred Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Jason Alexander.
West was nominated for seven Emmy Awards for his work on the series, winning once in 1993. He shared the win with his longtime business partner George Shapiro, co-owner of the management firm Shapiro-West and Associates, as well as Seinfeld and series co-creator Larry David, among others.
West also worked on the short-lived reality series The Marriage Ref, which featured a celebrity panel discussing and debating a couple’s marriage problems. The show featured comedian Tom Papa as the host, and Seinfeld regularly appeared as a panelist.
Additionally, West contributed to the television special Andy’s Funhouse, a stand-up concert special which aired on ABC two years after its recording. He also produced Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall, the comedian's 1980 television special; A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman, a documentary highlighting the comedian’s career; and served as an executive producer on Man on the Moon, the film telling the life story of Kaufman, starring Jim Carrey (West also made a cameo as an ABC executive in the film).
Howard West was a producer best known for his work on the classic comedic television series Seinfeld. From 1990 to 1998, West served as an executive producer on 172 episodes of the show, which starred Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Jason Alexander.
West was nominated for seven Emmy Awards for his work on the series, winning once in 1993. He shared the win with his longtime business partner George Shapiro, co-owner of the management firm Shapiro-West and Associates, as well as Seinfeld and series co-creator Larry David, among others.
West also worked on the short-lived reality series The Marriage Ref, which featured a celebrity panel discussing and debating a couple’s marriage problems. The show featured comedian Tom Papa as the host, and Seinfeld regularly appeared as a panelist.
Additionally, West contributed to the television special Andy’s Funhouse, a stand-up concert special which aired on ABC two years after its recording. He also produced Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall, the comedian's 1980 television special; A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman, a documentary highlighting the comedian’s career; and served as an executive producer on Man on the Moon, the film telling the life story of Kaufman, starring Jim Carrey (West also made a cameo as an ABC executive in the film).
He also worked on the feature films The Last Remake of Beau Geste, starring Marty Feldman, Ann-Margret and Michael York; In God We Tru$t, with Feldman and Peter Boyle; Summer School, with Mark Harmon and Kirstie Alley and Sibling Rivalry, with Alley and Carrie Fisher.
West got his start working at the William Morris Agency. After becoming an agent he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked on packaging shows, including The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.
He died December 6, 2015, in Los Angeles. He was 84.
