Michael Hoey - Crew Member of the Month

   

Michael Hoey

Michael Hoey was born on 8^th September 1934 in London, England and was raised in Beverly Hill. His father was actor Dennis Hoey.

Growing up near in the shadows of the Hollywood studios, Michael decided he wanted to go into show business and started his career in the editing room.

He then moved into writing screenplays and production and in 1966 he wrote and directed the cult science fiction movie: “The Navy Vs The Night Monster”.

Michael penned the scripts for two Elvis Presley films:  “Stay Away, Joe” and “Live a Little, Love a Little”, which were both released in 1968. For

As a director he worked on American TV shows like “Dallas”, “Falcon crest” and “Murder she Wrote”.

As a writer, he wrote scripts for “The Fitzpatricks”, “The Lazarus Syndrome” and “Bridges to Cross”.   

Michael also became an author and wrote the novels: “Elvis, Sherlock and Me: How I Survived Growing Up in Hollywood” and “Sherlock Holmes and the Fabulous Faces: The Universal Pictures Repertory Company”.

He served two four-year terms as a governor on the board of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the WGA honored him with its prestigious Morgan Cox Award in 1997.

    

    On “Fame” Michael was a Writer/Director/Editor/Associate Producer. He joined the how in 1981 and originally was one of the 3 editors editing the episodes. He edited the season 1 episodes:

- A Special Place  

- The Crazies  

- Street Kid  

- To Soar and Never Falter  

- Passing Grade  

- Metamorphosis  

He also put together the original opening title sequence with Michael Levine which gained them a Emmy nomination.  

Michael was also nominated for an Emmy for his editing of the episode “Passing Grade”. He didn’t win but did win the American Cinema Editors, USA for the same episode.

In Season Two he became an Associate Producer on the show, with responsibilities for post production duties, like running the dailies each day for the other producers and consulting with them during the editing process.  His main responsibility was for the re-recording (dubbing) of the soundtrack for each episode.  

He also wrote the script for the Season 2 episode “Star Quality”.

In Season 3, to save costs, the post production departments were scaled back and Michael was out of a job. However he did start directing the show directed 6 episodes in total:

- His Majesty Donlon  

- Wishes  

- Parent's Week  

- Spontaneous Combustion  

- Heritage  

- Consequences  

He also co-wrote the episode “Signs” with Valerie Landsburg.

In 2010 Michael wrote the novel: “Inside Fame on Television – A Behind The Scenes History, which he dedicated to his wife Katie and children, Lauren, Karin and Dennis.

Sadly Michael passed away on 17^th August 2014 from cancer, aged 79.

Interview with Michael where he discusses his life. At the end he mentions "Fame" which he says was the highlight of his career.