Wave Wire Services
HOLLYWOOD — Television executive Peter Roth, whose career included oversight of productions including “Happy Days,” “Dynasty,” “The X-Files,” “Family Guy” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Oct. 14.
Roth, who stepped down at the end of last year as chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group, said he wanted to continue working to further the careers of visionary creators who may not have the same privilege and opportunities as others.
“Since that reality seems increasingly rare for so many in today’s world, I intend to spend the rest of my days trying to help those that might otherwise not get that same consideration,” he said.
Roth, a New York native, graduated from Tufts University in 1972 and began working as an assistant to the head of television at Filmways Television. He later oversaw children’s programming at ABC before becoming the network’s vice president for primetime series, overseeing shows such as “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “Moonlighting” and “Dynasty.”
He moved on to lead Stephen J. Cannell Productions, helping bring to life shows including “21 Jump Street,” then became president of Twentieth Network Television, now 20th Television, in 1993. That job saw him oversee creation of “The X-Files,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “The Practice” and “King of the Hill.”
Moving to the Fox network as president of entertainment, he developed shows such as “Ally McBeal,” “That 70s Show” and “Family Guy.”
He joined Warner Bros. Television in 1999, striking production deals with creators such as Chuck Lorre, Greg Berlanti, J.J. Abrams and Ava DuVernay.
Those deals led to the creation of shows including “The Big Bang Theory,” “Two and a Half Men,” “The West Wing,” “Shameless,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Mom,” “The Middle,” “The Flash” and “Mike & Molly.”
DuVernay, Berlanti and Lorre were among those in attendance at the ceremony.
