Esteemed producer E. Duke Vincent, born Edward Ventimiglia, passed away at the age of 91 in his Montecito, California residence on Feb. 10.
“With profound sorrow, I inform you of the passing of my beloved and brilliant husband, E. Duke Vincent, a legendary Blue Angel, an Emmy award-winning television producer and writer, and an accomplished novelist. He died on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, at his home, that he built and loved and called Twin Oaks, in Montecito, California. He was 91,” the obituary read.
Before his illustrious Hollywood career, Mr. Vincent pursued his passion for aviation, notably as a member of the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels during the 1960-1961 seasons. The Blue Angels Association paid tribute to his service in a heartfelt Facebook post captioned “Fair winds and following seas.”
Mr. Vincent embarked on his journey in the entertainment industry, initially as a writer for television programs such as “Good Morning World” in 1967 and “Gomer Pyle” in 1968. His writing prowess soon caught the attention of industry insiders, leading to opportunities on acclaimed shows like “The Doris Day Show,” “The Jim Nabors Hour,” and “The New Temperatures Rising Show,” as well as television movies like “Salt and Pepe” and “Panache.”
It was in 1977 that Mr. Vincent’s path intersected with that of Aaron Spelling, marking the beginning of a significant collaboration. Their professional relationship swiftly evolved, with the duo formalizing their partnership as producing collaborators in 1978.
Mr. Vincent’s multifaceted talents extended across various domains; he collaborated with writer Arnie Kane on seven documentaries titled “Man In Space” and produced television projects like “Good Morning World,” along with made-for-television films such as “The Imposter.”
With an impressive 43 production credits to his name, Mr. Vincent’s influence resonated through beloved series like “Melrose Place,” “The Colbys Hotel,” and “Vegas.” Together with Mr. Spelling, he played a pivotal role in the creation of seven miniseries and 39 made-for-television films, including the acclaimed “And the Band Played On.” Additionally, Vincent authored four novels: “Mafia Summer,” “Black Widow,” “The Strip,” and “The Camelot Conspiracy.”
Mr. Vincent clinched his Emmy awards for his executive production roles in two notable productions. The first was “Day One,” a 1989 CBS film delving into the Manhattan Project, featuring David Strathairn in the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer. His second Emmy triumph came with the 1994 HBO movie “And the Band Played On,” which tackled the AIDS epidemic.
Throughout his career, Mr. Vincent presided over 2,300 hours of film and tape, culminating in his role as Executive Producer and Vice Chairman of Spelling Television before retiring. His wife, Pamela, did not disclose the cause of his death.
