David Wolper, Producer Of 'Roots,' Has Died

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — David L. Wolper, who produced "Roots," is dead at 82 of congestive heart disease and complications of Parkinson's disease.

Wolper's spokesman, Dale Olson, said Wolper died in his Beverly Hills home Tuesday evening.

During a long career, Wolper also produced the children's classic "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." But his TV work remained his best-known accomplishment, particularly "Roots." The ABC series was seen in whole or part by 130 million people -- more than half the country -- when it ran for eight nights in 1977.

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