LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Pioneering African-American TV writer, producer and director Luther James has died in Los Angeles at age 76.
James died Feb. 5 and a memorial service is planned Sunday at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, Daily Variety reported Tuesday.
The New York native was one of the first minority TV directors in the 1960s, working on shows such as "Police Story," "Courtship of Eddie's Father," "Bill Cosby Show," "Bewitched" and "Julia," Variety said.
He produced the anthology drama series "On Being Black" from 1968 to 1970 and executive produced a number of CBS shows including "Mission Impossible," "Wild Wild West," "Hogan's Heroes," "The Lucy Show" and "Andy Griffith."
James also had a hand in "Man From U.N.C.L.E.," "Girl From U.N.C.L.E.," "Jericho" and "Dr. Kildare," Variety said.
James taught acting for 20 years at the University of California San Diego as well as at California State Northridge, California State Los Angeles and Portland State University.
He joined the Actors Studio in the 1950s and also taught at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Los Angeles, Negro Ensemble Company in New York and Frank Silvera's Theatre of Being Workshop in Los Angeles.
James is survived by his wife, two children, a sister, a brother and one grandchild.
