William R. Finnegan - 27 East
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News / Obituaries / Southampton Press / 1474180

William R. Finnegan

author on Dec 2, 2008

Film and television producer William R. Finnegan died at his Sag Harbor home on November 28, of Parkinson’s disease. He was 80.

Best known for producing the 1970s prime-time hit series “Hawaii Five-0,” Mr. Finnegan also produced “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” starring brothers Jeff and Beau Bridges and Michelle Pfeiffer, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role.

Over the course of his long career in Hollywood, he was nominated for five Academy Awards. More recent films for which he was producer or co-producer include “Reality Bites” from 1994 and “Ed” from 1996.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he served in the U.S. Navy after World War II. In the 1950s, he wrote for the Hollywood Citizen News, the Associated Press and CBS. He formed a production company, Finnegan-Pinchuk Co. with his wife, Patricia, and business partner, Sheldon Pinchuk, which supplied movies for network and cable stations in the 1980s.

In addition to his wife of 57 years, Patricia, he is survived by three sons, Michael, William, and Kevin; a daughter, Colleen; three grandchildren; and a brother, Charles Robinson.

Funeral services in New York were private. A memorial service will be held in January in Los Angeles.

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