Jamie Bennett, CBS and Walt Disney TV Executive, Dies at 78

Jamie Bennett, a television executive at CBS and Walt Disney who developed shows including “Live With Regis and Kathie Lee,” died July 6 of cancer. He was 78.

Bennett worked with CBS for 13 years, filling executive positions at radio and TV stations in San Francisco and Chicago before moving to Los Angeles and becoming VP and general manager of KCBS-TV.

After his tenure at CBS, he transitioned to the Walt Disney Company, where he became the senior VP of Buena Vista Television Productions. He developed syndicated shows such as “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,” “Siskel and Ebert” and “Win, Lose or Draw.” From there, he became the president and CEO of ACI, a Los Angeles-based television and theatrical film distribution company. After ACI was sold to Pearson Television (now Fremantle Limited), he moved with his family to London to run its worldwide production.

Born in New York City, Bennett moved with his family to Northfield, Mass. He left Massachusetts to attend college in California at the University of California, Berkeley. He served as program director for Cal’s radio station and produced their annual Jazz Festival. Five years after graduating, he was awarded the Kenneth Priestly Award, which recognizes a graduating senior for their outstanding student leadership and contributions to student welfare.

After graduating from college, he earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He then joined the Southern California Institute of Architecture in downtown Los Angeles as a chief operating officer.

Bennett later the Board of the Ojai Music Festival, eventually becoming its CEO and president for several years, as well as teaming up with Ojai’s Planning Commission. He was also a board member of the W. Alton Jones Foundation, the National Environmental Trust, Phoenix Pictures, the St. Nicholas Theater in Chicago, the Marlborough School, the UC Berkeley Alumni Association and the Television Advisory Board of the Annenberg School at USC.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Doepke Bennett, and their children, Katherine (Philip Ineno and his children, Maggie and Kenji), Lucy, Brooks (Christina), his older sister, Judith Wilson (David), niece Alison Akers and her daughter, Hyacinth.

Donations may be made to the Ojai Music Festival, Jamie Bennett Community Fund, PO Box 185, Ojai, CA. 93024 or through OjaiFestival.org by adding Jamie’s name to the Memory Box.