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WILLIAM R. FINNEGAN / 1928-2008

'Hawaii Five-O' producer genuinely cared for staff and crew

By Rosemarie Bernardo

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 04, 2008

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William R. Finnegan, who produced the CBS prime-time hit "Hawaii Five-O" for four seasons in the 1970s, died Friday at his home in Sag Harbor, N.Y., of Parkinson's disease. He was 80.

"He was very creative," said actor James MacArthur, whose character, Dan Williams, is inextricably linked with the popular catch phrase "Book 'em, Danno," as uttered by Jack Lord's Steve McGarrett.

"He kept the wheels turning," said MacArthur in a phone interview. "He was a good, hands-on producer. He was a fine fellow. There's not many of the old gang left."

In addition to the popular series, Finnegan, a veteran of the "Hawaii Calls" radio show, worked on many television and film productions in the state, including "Kona Coast," a television pilot featuring actor Richard Boone, and a series called "Big Hawaii" in 1977. He produced "Vacation in Hell" two years later.

"He loved Hawaii, and although he worked and traveled all over the globe, he always said that Hawaiians had the biggest hearts in the world," said his son, William, a writer for New Yorker magazine.

Dee Dickson, a former screen publicist who worked for Finnegan in Hawaii, said he was such a great boss that she would have paid him to be his employee. "He was miles away from what one would assume the caricature of a Hollywood producer would be. He cared about his staff and the crew."

Born in Kansas City, Mo., Finnegan worked as a reporter for the Hollywood Citizen News, the Associated Press and CBS before he became a television and film producer.

Finnegan, along with wife Patricia and Sheldon Pinchuk, established the Finnegan-Pinchuk company, which became one of the leading producers of network and cable television movies in the 1980s, said family members. Some of his producing credits include "World War III," starring Rock Hudson, "The Dollmaker," starring Jane Fonda, and "The Atlanta Child Murders" with actor Morgan Freeman.

His many feature films include "North Shore," "White Palace," "Reality Bites" and "The Fabulous Baker Boys."

While at home with his family, he was a wonderful, loving father, said his son. "He had a dry, self-deprecating sense of humor and a sense of adventure that regularly turned family outings into hair-raising escapades."

Finnegan is survived by his wife of 57 years; children William, Kevin, Colleen and Michael; and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Jan. 10 in Los Angeles. Details are pending.

William R. Finnegan, who produced the CBS prime-time hit "Hawaii Five-O" for four seasons in the 1970s, died Friday at his home in Sag Harbor, N.Y., of Parkinson's disease. He was 80.

William R. Finnegan: He produced films including“North Shore” and “Reality Bites”

"He was very creative," said actor James MacArthur, whose character, Dan Williams, is inextricably linked with the popular catch phrase "Book 'em, Danno," as uttered by Jack Lord's Steve McGarrett.

"He kept the wheels turning," said MacArthur in a phone interview. "He was a good, hands-on producer. He was a fine fellow. There's not many of the old gang left."

In addition to the popular series, Finnegan, a veteran of the "Hawaii Calls" radio show, worked on many television and film productions in the state, including "Kona Coast," a television pilot featuring actor Richard Boone, and a series called "Big Hawaii" in 1977. He produced "Vacation in Hell" two years later.

"He loved Hawaii, and although he worked and traveled all over the globe, he always said that Hawaiians had the biggest hearts in the world," said his son, William, a writer for New Yorker magazine.

Dee Dickson, a former screen publicist who worked for Finnegan in Hawaii, said he was such a great boss that she would have paid him to be his employee. "He was miles away from what one would assume the caricature of a Hollywood producer would be. He cared about his staff and the crew."

Born in Kansas City, Mo., Finnegan worked as a reporter for the Hollywood Citizen News, the Associated Press and CBS before he became a television and film producer.

Finnegan, along with wife Patricia and Sheldon Pinchuk, established the Finnegan-Pinchuk company, which became one of the leading producers of network and cable television movies in the 1980s, said family members. Some of his producing credits include "World War III," starring Rock Hudson, "The Dollmaker," starring Jane Fonda, and "The Atlanta Child Murders" with actor Morgan Freeman.

His many feature films include "North Shore," "White Palace," "Reality Bites" and "The Fabulous Baker Boys."

While at home with his family, he was a wonderful, loving father, said his son. "He had a dry, self-deprecating sense of humor and a sense of adventure that regularly turned family outings into hair-raising escapades."

Finnegan is survived by his wife of 57 years; children William, Kevin, Colleen and Michael; and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Jan. 10 in Los Angeles. Details are pending.

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