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): Adut Akech • Alastair Cook • Antoinette of Bourbon • Archibald Pitcairne • Atko Väikmeri • Cheryl Chase (actress) • Eric Gordon • Hanna Schygulla • Joel Porter • Johann Adam Hiller • John IV Laskaris • Ken Stabler • Manny Trillo • Mary Rose Tuitt • Nicolas Godin • Ramdas Athawale • Stephen Barnett • William Bell (tubist)

Born in the same month (December 1906): Erika Fuchs • Fernando Lopes-Graça • Harold Adamson • Jules Ladoumègue • Laurens van der Post • Oscar Levant • Peter Carl Goldmark • Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark