37 DEATH of a Director By Chopper Blades - Boris Sagal, USA

Boris Sagal

Boris Sagal (October 18, 1923 - May 22, 1981), was a Ukrainian-born American television and film director. His recent movie credits at the time of death, included the ABC television miniseries ''Masada".

Born in Yekaterinoslav, Ukrainian SSR (now known as Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine), Sagal emigrated to the United States where he attended the Yale School of Drama. Sagal's many TV credits include directing episodes of The Twilight Zone, T.H.E. Cat, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Columbo, Peter Gunn, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. He also directed the 1972 television adaptation of Percy MacKaye's play The Scarecrow, for PBS. He was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for his direction of the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man and, posthumously, the above mentioned Masada.

Sagal directed the 1971 cult classic science fiction film, The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston in the lead role and The Dream Makers. There is a directing fellowship in his name at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts.