Sydney Newman, was a film and television producer, and was responsible for creating numerous popular BBC television shows, including "The Avengers", "Doctor Who", "Cathy Come Home" and "The Forsyte Saga".
He was born Sydney Cecil Newman on April 1, 1917 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He started in the film business in Canada in 1943 directing such films as Fighting Norway and producing films such as Banshees Over Canada. In 1958, he moved to the United Kingdom and became the Supervisor of Drama at Associated British Corporation. While there, he created on of the most popular British television shows at the time, The Avengers, in 1961.
In 1963 he took the post of Head of Drama Group at the BBC, and created Doctor Who, the longest running science-fiction television show of all time. These two television shows solidified his position as one of the most popular men in the television business at the time. He was also responsible for the creation of other titles such as Wednesday Play and Adam Adamant Lives.
He left the BBC in 1967, and returned to Canada the following year. He was Director of the CBC from 1972 to 1975.
Newman died on October 30, 1997 of a heart attack in Toronto.
