Charles Cappleman

Charles Cappleman was executive vice-president for West Coast operations and engineering for CBS, best known for planning the studio building completed in 1992 at CBS Television City.

Cappleman brought the first videotape recorders to CBS. He was among the first to support the transition from old relay-type microprocessor-driven switches, and he helped advance the standard of switched, recorded studio productions.

In the early ‘60s he worked on The Judy Garland Show, where he was credited with arranging the up-to-date technical facilities. On other CBS shows, he encouraged engineers and technicians to think in new ways, resulting in some new and innovative effects and edits.

In addition, he worked on, participated in and coordinated the technical facilities of numerous shows including Playhouse 90, All in the Family, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and The Beautiful, The Price is Right, The Steve Harvey Show and The Carol Burnett Show.

In 2002, Cappleman received the Television Academy’s Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award for his many innovations.

Charles Cappleman was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2004.

Cappleman died December 5, 2021. He was 95.