Barney Rosenzweig

Barney began his show business career as an MGM office boy in 1959, and rose to become one of television’s most honored producers, winning two Emmys from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Outstanding Dramatic Series (Cagney & Lacey), and a Golden Globe from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for Best Miniseries (John Steinbeck’s East of Eden). He is the recipient of citations from the Congress of the United States, the State of California, the cities of Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, multiple women’s groups throughout the country, and, from the University of Southern California, where he now serves on the prestigious Board of Councillors of the School of Cinematic Arts.

Other honors awarded Rosenzweig’s work include the ACLU “Bill of Rights Award,” the Humanitas, Scott Newman and Christopher Awards, a special Luminas from Women in Film, as well as citations and salutes from the National Commission of Working Women, the Museum of Television & Radio, the National Organization for Women (NOW), the “Good Guy Award” from the National Women’s Political Caucus, and the “Award of Merit” from USC as one of the university’s “outstanding alumni.”

Rosenzweig received his degree in political science at USC (1959), where he has established a Cagney & Lacey Scholarship. Other philanthropies include a two-year term in Los Angeles as chairman of the entertainment division of the United Jewish Fund, and as chairperson of the President’s Council of the American Lung Association.

In 1991, Rosenzweig married his third wife, multi Emmy Award-winning actress Sharon Gless. They reside on Fisher Island in Florida, where Rosenzweig, paraphrasing playwright Terrence McNally, says he “hasn’t retired, he’s stopped,” conceding the difference to be subtle. The producer goes on to note that his “best productions” are daughters Erika, Allyn, and Torrie, and the “spin-offs,” granddaughters Hailey Laws, Greer Rose Glassman, and Zoey B Rosenzweig.

Cagney & Lacey … and Me is Rosenzweig’s first book.