William L. Hendricks, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetWilliam L. Hendricks
American film producer
Date of Birth: 03-May-1904
Place of Birth: Grand Prairie, Texas, United States
Date of Death: 29-Mar-1992
Profession: film producer
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Taurus 
About William L. Hendricks
- William L.
- Hendricks (May 3, 1904 – March 29, 1992) was a former USMCR Colonel who was the key figure in setting up the "Toys for Tots" program.
- Aside from his USMCR career, he also worked in the film industry for many years, initially as a documentary producer for the United States Army, then as a production executive at Warner Bros., where he eventually became the final producer of the Looney Tunes series. In 1947 Hendricks, then a Major in the USMCR, was asked by his wife Diane to donate some toys (including ones she had made herself) to an organization that gave out toys to needy children.
- However, his research found that no such organisation existed, and he resolved to start one himself.
- He led a toy collection in the Los Angeles area with several family and friends that eventually amassed some 5,000 toys.
- This pilot program proved so successful that the Marine Corps adopted it as an official campaign the following year, and Hendricks helped make it even more of a success by using his contacts through Warner Bros.
- to persuade many celebrities to support the charity.His career as a documentary producer saw him win an Academy Honorary Award in 1961 for his part in the Marine Corps documentary A Force in Readiness.
- In 1967 he was asked by Warner Bros.
- to take over as head of their newly reformed animation studio, as well as becoming overall head of the Looney Tunes franchise.
- The new animation studio lasted only two years and produced few cartoons of note before shutting down in 1969.
- However, Hendricks remained in a supervisory role, overseeing production on The Bugs Bunny Show and other television shows featuring Looney Tunes cartoons.
- He remained in this role until 1977, when he finally retired from the film industry at the age of 73.
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