Longtime Oscar Telecast Director Killed In Bizarre Car Accident
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Longtime Oscar director Marty Pasetta was killed Thursday in a bizarre car accident, according to reports.
Pasetta, 82, directed the Oscars 17 years in a row from 1972-1988. He was also well-known for producing and directing a landmark 1973 Elvis Presley special, "Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii," seen in more than 40 countries, the first program ever beamed around the world by satellite and one of the highest-rated TV music specials to date.
The Wrap first reported the death.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department cited in the Wrap article, the La Quinta Police Department responded to the 49000 block of Via Conquistador in the city of La Quinta regarding a fatal traffic accident just after 9:20 p.m. Thursday.
The driver, Keith Stewart, 75 of La Quinta, was stopped on Via Conquistador allowing passengers to exit his vehicle. Stewart reportedly got out of the vehicle with the car still in drive and slammed into two passengers who hadstepped out of the car.
Pasetta was declared dead at the scene. The other passenger was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
The Wrap story said Stewart was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Pasetta's other credits included producing and directing the Emmys and Grammys (eight times). Pasetta's other notable credits include the "AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Fred Astaire" (1981), "The Smother Brothers Comedy Hour" (1967), the TV movie "The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together" (1987) and TV inaugural galas for presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
Pasetta was nominated for nine Emmy awards.
