Rachel Bilson’s grandfather Bruce Bilson dies ‘peacefully’ at 97 at LA home … prolific TV director won Emmy for Get Smart

by

Bruce Bilson, a celebrated director who won an Emmy and was the grandfather of actress Rachel Bilson, passed away Friday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 97 years old, as confirmed by his daughter, Julie Bilson Ahlberg.

According to Bilson Ahlberg, who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, Bruce, the Emmy-winning star of ‘Get Smart,’ died peacefully.

In 1968, Bruce received an Emmy Award for directing the comedy episode “Maxwell Smart, Private Eye.”

Bruce directed over 400 television episodes and worked on many of the most popular shows of his time.

The lineup featured classic shows like The Brady Bunch, MAS*H, The Andy Griffith Show, Get Smart, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Odd Couple, and Hogan’s Heroes.

He also contributed to many popular television shows, including Hawaii 5-0, The Patty Duke Show, The Doris Day Show, Barney Miller, The Fall Guy, Dinosaurs, The Sentinel, and Knight Rider.

Bruce collaborated for many years with the iconic Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, working on projects for their well-known production company, Desilu.

In a 2008 interview with the TV Academy Foundation, he fondly remembered his time at Desilu, saying it was a great place to work.

As I understand it, Lucille Ball was signed with RKO Pictures when I Love Lucy took off. It became such a phenomenon that they actually formed Desilu Productions and purchased a small studio lot on Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood. It was a really smart move, giving them complete creative and financial control – a total game changer for television at the time!

Bruce explained that Desilu Studios back then was similar to today’s Comedy Central, because it produced popular sitcoms like I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks, The Danny Thomas Show, and December Bride.

Bruce had later worked with Lucy on her 1986 ABC sitcom, Life With Lucy. 

Bruce was born in Brooklyn, New York, in May 1928. When he was four years old, his family moved to Los Angeles because his father, George, found work in the trailer department at Warner Bros.

His mother Hattie also worked in show business as she penned short films at RKO Pictures.

Bruce began his acting career at age 14 as an extra in the film Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout in 1944.

Two years after starting his studies, Bruce was among the first students to graduate from UCLA’s new film program.

After serving in the US Air Force, Bruce started his career in television in 1952, working as an editor on the NBC game show You Bet Your Life, which was hosted by Groucho Marx. He worked on the show for two seasons.

Following assistant directing roles on shows like Wyatt Earp and The Andy Griffith Show, he started collaborating with Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and Argyle Nelson, who oversaw physical production at Desilu Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

I remember Bruce talking about how he first started making films back in 2008. He admitted he used to think his camera work was pretty bad! He really pushed himself to improve and find ways to make it more engaging, which I always admired.

With experience, I realized it was more important to focus on working with the actors and getting their performances right, before worrying about the technical aspects of filming.

On Wednesday evening, Rachel posted a link to her grandfather’s obituary from The Hollywood Reporter on her Instagram Stories.

The family has requested donations in his memory be made to CASA of Los Angeles. 

According to Variety, a memorial service for Bruce will take place at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Bruce is remembered by his wife, Renne Jarrett, his children Danny and Julie Bilson, and his stepson Drew Stauffer with his wife Liz. He is also survived by seven grandchildren – Rachel, Hattie, Rosemary, John, Sidney, Suki, and Bowie – and two great-grandchildren, Briar and Everly, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Read More

2026-01-22 05:07