Joseph T. Naar

Joseph T. (Joe) Naar was born in Boyle Heights Los Angeles, in 1926. After graduating from Los Angeles High School, Joe went to work for Film Industry Agents William Morris. At WMA, Joe's outgoing and friendly personality saw him fast-tracked through the agency's training program.

In the early 1950s, his clients included Peter Lawford, Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, Raquel Welch and Marilyn Monroe. Here he met his first wife, stage and film dancer Dolores Durrett. They married and had three children, while living in Brentwood California. Joe's ambitions eventually took him out of Agency work and into production. His television credits include producing the Ronald Reagan-hosted 'General Electric Comedy Hour', The 'Lux Playhouse' and the TV series 'Checkmate'. Joe is credited with discovering actor Jon Voight, whom he worked with when producing his first movie, 'The All American Boy'.

He also produced the cutting edge, now cult classic 'Blacula' (1972) and the sequel 'Scream Blacula Scream,' (1973) starring William Marshall and Vonetta McGee, for AIP Productions. Joe's reputation for success lead him to television and with Spelling Goldberg Productions, he produced the hit TV series 'Starsky and Hutch'. He is credited for creating the concept for the TV Series 'Heart to Heart', which eventually went into production starring Robert Wagner. Joe also worked with Blake Edwards Productions, where he produced TV series 'Strike Force' with Robert Culp and 'Half Nelson' starring Joe Pesci. Joe and Dolores eventually separated and both remarried, but maintained a close friendship.