Lew Grade

Lew Grade, Baron Grade, was a Russian-born British media proprietor and impresario. Originally a dancer, and later a talent agent, Grade's interest in television production began in 1954 when he founded the Incorporated Television Company to distribute programmes, and following the success of The Adventures of Robin Hood decided to focus on bringing them to the American market. Grade had some success in this field with such series as Gerry Anderson's many Supermarionation series such as Thunderbirds, Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner, and Jim Henson's The Muppet Show. Later, Grade invested in feature film production, but several expensive box-office failures caused him to lose control of ITC, and ultimately resulted in the disestablishment of ATV after it lost its ITV franchise.

25 December 1906

Born on the same birth date (25 December 1906): Ernst Ruska

Born on the same birth day (25 December): Alastair Cook • Avu-chan • Barton MacLane • Enrique Jorrín • Françoise Dürr • Jacqui McShee • Jean-Joseph de Mondonville • Manny Trillo • Noël Coypel • Rodney Dent • Sissy Spacek • Tony Martin (American singer) • Willy Taveras

Born in the same month (December 1906): Alziro Bergonzo • Carol Reed • Erika Fuchs • Ernst Ruska • Franz Waxman • Grace Hopper • Harold Adamson • Jules Ladoumègue • Laurens van der Post • Leonid Brezhnev • Peter Carl Goldmark • Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark