Television icon Don Mischer, renowned for his influential contributions over six decades, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 11, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. He was 85 years old.
Mischer had completed his last production just days before his passing—the 2025 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony, which James Corden hosted at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. Known as “the Oscars of Science,” the event featured performances by Katy Perry and attracted tech leaders and celebrities. It is available for streaming on YouTube.
Shortly before his death, Mischer told Deadline he had planned to retire. “I want you to know that, after more than six decades in television, I will be doing my last show tomorrow on Saturday, April 5th here in Los Angeles,” he stated.
A 15-time Emmy winner, Mischer’s influence in live television production is unmatched. His illustrious career saw him direct and produce over 100 major events, including two Academy Awards, 15 Emmy telecasts, multiple Kennedy Center Honors, several People’s Choice Awards, and annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremonies. He also directed the annual 9/11 memorials at Ground Zero in New York, New York, and numerous other special events.
Among his notable achievements, Mischer directed the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. His resume also includes directing Super Bowl Halftime Shows featuring artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and Bruce Springsteen. Prince’s 2007 performance in the rain is considered one of the most memorable in history.
Mischer directed the Obama Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 2009, which drew approximately 750,000 attendees on the National Mall. His other significant productions included the “Motown 25” special, featuring Michael Jackson’s moonwalk, Democratic National Convention coverage, and “Carnegie Hall: Live at 100.”
In November 2023, Mischer released his autobiography, “10 Seconds To Air: My Life In The Director’s Chair,” sharing behind-the-scenes insights from iconic productions. The memoir details his experiences directing Jackson’s “Billie Jean” performance on the “Motown 25” special and Prince’s Super Bowl halftime show in the rain.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Mischer’s passion for television began at a young age. In a Deadline interview, he recounted attending his hometown’s first television broadcast at age nine, an experience that sparked his lifelong career. He described the scene of cameras, lights, and performers filling a basketball court, with monitors surrounding the venue.
Mischer told Deadline that witnessing the live broadcast and its simultaneous television airing planted the seed for his future. From that moment, he became captivated by television.
After earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, Mischer began his television career in 1963 at the PBS station on campus. His journey led him from these beginnings to the pinnacle of live television production.
Mischer frequently discussed the unique excitement of directing live events. He noted that there was no feeling similar to counting down the final seconds before a live Olympic Games Opening Ceremony broadcast, knowing a significant global audience would watch in real-time, with only one opportunity to execute flawlessly.
He highlighted that live television offered no retakes or edits—only one chance to perform correctly in front of a stadium filled with spectators, heads of state, global press, and nearly every viewer worldwide. This, he explained, was the thrill and challenge of live television.
During his distinguished career, Mischer amassed numerous accolades, including 15 Emmy Awards (13 of which were Primetime Emmys), a record 10 Directors Guild of America Awards, a Peabody Award, two NAACP Image Awards, the 2012 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television from the Producers Guild of America, and the 2019 DGA Lifetime Achievement Award for Television. In 2014, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In a message to Deadline shortly before his death, Mischer reflected on his extensive career. He noted that his work spanned from television’s early days in 1949 through Super Bowl halftimes with renowned performers, Olympic Opening Ceremonies, Carnegie Hall’s 100th Anniversary, and Obama’s Inaugural Concert.
He acknowledged that nature was indicating it was time to slow down. Regrettably, he passed away just days after his final production, without the opportunity to enjoy retirement.
Mischer is survived by his wife Suzan, four children (Heather, Jennifer, Charlie, and Lily), and two grandchildren (Everly and Tallulah).
