A broadcasting legend in his native Australia, Reg Grundy was one of the most prolific and successful producers in the country's history. Although he was known as the king of game shows, Grundy amassed a body of work that also included dramatic series and feature films. He was responsible for some of the most popular franchises ever made for Australian television, several of which also aired in the U.S. and around the world.
Grundy got his start in 1959, when his popular radio show Wheel of Fortune moved to television. The following year he established The Grundy Organisation, which produced a string of popular game-show brands, including Sale of the Century, Going for Gold, Family Feud, Scrabble, Hot Streak and I've Got a Secret.
His most enduring scripted drama, Neighbours, premiered in 1985. The iconic Aussie soap opera launched the careers of numerous stars, including Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce, and featured the likes of Russell Crowe, Jesse Spencer and Alan Dale. The long-running hit is still a fixture on Australian TV. Other Grundy scripted series included Until Tomorrow, Class of '74, Young Doctors, Restless Years, Prisoner, Sons and Daughters and Waterloo Station.
In 1995 he sold his company to Pearsons for a reported AUS$320 million ($236 million); it later became part of FremantleMedia. following the sale he remained a media force via RG Capital, a company he formed in 1995, with substantial investments in media, entertainment and advertising.
A broadcasting legend in his native Australia, Reg Grundy was one of the most prolific and successful producers in the country's history. Although he was known as the king of game shows, Grundy amassed a body of work that also included dramatic series and feature films. He was responsible for some of the most popular franchises ever made for Australian television, several of which also aired in the U.S. and around the world.
Grundy got his start in 1959, when his popular radio show Wheel of Fortune moved to television. The following year he established The Grundy Organisation, which produced a string of popular game-show brands, including Sale of the Century, Going for Gold, Family Feud, Scrabble, Hot Streak and I've Got a Secret.
His most enduring scripted drama, Neighbours, premiered in 1985. The iconic Aussie soap opera launched the careers of numerous stars, including Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce, and featured the likes of Russell Crowe, Jesse Spencer and Alan Dale. The long-running hit is still a fixture on Australian TV. Other Grundy scripted series included Until Tomorrow, Class of '74, Young Doctors, Restless Years, Prisoner, Sons and Daughters and Waterloo Station.
In 1995 he sold his company to Pearsons for a reported AUS$320 million ($236 million); it later became part of FremantleMedia. following the sale he remained a media force via RG Capital, a company he formed in 1995, with substantial investments in media, entertainment and advertising.
A successful foray into feature films came in 1977 with Abba: The Movie.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1983, and in 2008 he was named a Companion of the Order of Australia for his outstanding contributions to the television industry and promotion of Australia overseas. Other professional accolades included the International Emmy Founders Award in 1996 and the Australian Film Institute's Raymond Longford Award in 2010.
The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more