Gino Grimaldi, a veteran TV producer known for such series as “Knight Rider” and “Emergency” died Friday in Newport Beach, Calif., according to his wife Nancy Grimaldi. He was 74.
Grimaldi began his 20-year career at Universal Studios as a film editor, where he worked on the “Bob Hope Christmas” and “Vietnam” Specials.
It wasn’t long before he committed to a 75 episode arc of “Emergency,” where he worked alongside Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe from 1973-79. In 1983, he began work on “Knight Rider,” producing 70 episodes. The series starred David Hasselhoff.
Grimaldi’s other credits include “Of Mice and Men” (1981), “Shanghai 1920” (1991), and “A Promise Kept: The Oksana Baiul Story” (1994).
“Shanghai 1920” was a theatrical motion picture for a Chinese production company filmed entirely in Shanghai. Post production was completed in Hong Kong.
In 2000, Grimaldi was a part of Project 51, a two-week cross country trip organized to deliver “Emergency” memorabilia to Washington D.C. to be inducted into the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The cast and crew of “Emergency” stopped in various cities along the way including Chicago, New York and Baltimore to sell souvenirs to fund the trip. Nancy Grimaldi said it was his most memorable experience.
Born in Los Angeles, Grimaldi attended Hollywood High School and USC. During the Vietnam War, he served in the Army National Guard.
Grimaldi is survived by his wife and daughter, Nancy and Angela, son-in-law Greg and his grandson Pete.
Donations may be made in Gino Grimaldi’s memory to the Silverado Newport Mesa Associates Fund, Silverado Newport Mesa, 350 West Bay Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.
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