Fred R. Klug
Courtesy of Vivian Klug Cotton
Fred R. Klug was a producer, director and cinematographer for nature-themed television shows. Animal World, Wild Kingdom Mutual Insurance of Omaha and The Magical World of DisneyHe passed away at the age of 94.
Klug died of natural causes on June 4 at his home in Solvang, California, said his daughter, Vivian Klug Cotton. The Hollywood Reporter.
A pioneer of television wildlife documentaries and travel shows, the Swiss-born Klug dined with Picasso, performed with the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl and danced with the Nicholas Brothers.
He also collaborated with artists such as Gypsy Rose Lee, Louis Armstrong, Cornel Wilde, Jayne Mansfield, Dana Andrews, Jean Simmons, Agnes Moorehead, Art Linkletter and Tippi Hedren.
Krug’s career has taken him to the jungles of Peru, Ecuador and Brazil, India, Zululand, South Africa, the Serengeti in Kenya, the highlands of New Zealand and the mountains of Italy.
Friedrich Roy Klug was born in Bern, Switzerland on August 30, 1929. He bought his first movie camera in a photography shop at the age of 10 and began making short films while living in Basel, Switzerland.
At the age of 16, he became a photographer and writer for a local newspaper, covering the European entertainment and arts scene and translating and writing German versions of Bram Stoker’s novels. Dracula.
Klug came to Los Angeles and arranged a meeting with fellow Swiss native Peter Bollbusch, who was working as a montage director at MGM, and who helped Klug get work in Hollywood.
Klug served in the U.S. Army in intelligence, ran a base radio station and was a celebrity entertainment booking agent before returning to Los Angeles to resume his career in the entertainment industry.
He served as stage manager for Jack LaLanne’s legendary fitness program and was director of photography and director of film videotapes at KCOP-TV in Los Angeles.
Klug’s passion for animals, especially big cats, led him to join Bill Burrad Productions, where he Animal World and Wild Kingdom Mutual Insurance of Omahaa primetime program about wildlife.
for The Magical World of Disney In the 1970s, he worked as a cinematographer and directed films such as “Proud Bird of Shanghai,” “The Secrets of the Old Glory Mines” and “Golden Dogs.”
He has also contributed to the following television shows: Western US, The world of reptiles, Great apes, Wilderness Family Adventure and Mountain Family RobinsonHe is on NBC CHiPs From 1978 to 1980.
Klug was admitted to the DGA by Roy Disney and served as a planner and picket leader for the union’s only strike (known as the “Five Minute Strike” because of its brevity) in 1987. Klug was also a member of the Producers Guild.
An avid private pilot, Klug was active in the Rotary Club of Hollywood and, after his retirement, the Rotary Club of Santa Ynez.
In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his wife of 68 years, Rosemary, and his son-in-law, Samuel.
