Emmy Award-winning director Hemion dead

RECTORTOWN, Va., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Television director Dwight Arlington Hemion, who earned 18 Emmy Awards, has died in Rectortown, Va., at 81.

Hemion -- who directed TV specials for such performers as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Bette Midler and Mikhail Baryshnikov -- received a record 47 Emmy nominations. He died Monday of renal failure at his Virginia home, the Los Angeles Times said Saturday.

Three of his Emmys were for TV specials starring Streisand.

Ron Simon, curator of radio and television at the Paley Center for Media, told the newspaper Hemion helped create a remarkable era of television through his work on TV specials like "Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music."

"He created great variety television for home audiences," Simon said.

Hemion also directed TV specials for Julie Andrews and Andy Williams, as well as several Kennedy Center Honors programs.

Hemion is survived by his wife, Kit; two children; three step-children and six grandchildren.