Founder and Chairman of Harmony Gold dead at 93.

[glitterboy2098]

https://variety.com/2023/tv/obituaries- ... 235595749/

Apr 26, 2023 1:45pm PT
Frank Agrama, Founder and Chairman of Harmony Gold, Dies at 93

Frank Agrama, founder and chairman of Harmony Gold, died on Tuesday. He was 93.

Agrama’s career as an entertainment pioneer saw him founding several production companies including the Film Association of Rome and then Harmony Gold, which launched television series such as “Shaka Zulu” and “Robotech.”

He was born on Jan. 1, 1930, and became a child actor in Egypt with his own TV series. While his father was the Surgeon General of Egypt, Agrama initially followed in his father’s footsteps by acquiring a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Cairo. By the time he was 23 years old, Agrama was a medical doctor.

Agrama left his medical career to pursue his passion for entertainment production, obtaining a Bachelor of Theater Arts from UCLA. He then moved back to the Middle East in 1964 where he would go on to help establish Lebanon’s movie industry.

Agrama then moved to Italy with his family where he founded the theatrical production and distribution company Film Association of Rome. After nine years in Italy, he moved back to the States where he shifted his focus in the industry from film to TV — founding the production company Harmony Gold in 1983.

Harmony Gold played an integral role in the production, acquisition, and distribution of international TV programming. Under its first year of operation, the company launched “Shaka Zulu,” one of the most successful first-run syndicated miniseries in TV history. The company went on to launch “Robotech,” the 1985 Japanese anime franchise that Sony Pictures is set to produce as a full-length live action feature with Mark Canton and Gianni Nunnari producing.

Agrama is survived by his wife; Olfet, his son; Ahmed Agrama (Lena), his daughter; Jehan Agrama (Dwora Fried), his brother; Hani Agrama (Roberta), his sister; Amina Ramzy and his grandchildren; Maya, Natasha, Frankie, Anjoum Anissa, Tayo and Marli.

Donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders, World Central Kitchen or the L.A. Mission.

This was apparently back in april, but I don't think anyone here had heard yet.

[Sambot]

Wow! It sounds like he had a full life. Unfortunately his company caused a lot of conflict even with all the cool things they did. Still, his loss is sad for his family.

[xunk16]

This is an unexpectedly fulfilled and productive life. May he rest free to travel the stars he offered so many of us.

[taalismn]

Indeed; more to the man than just the company. To go from one course in life to another, roam the world helping spread entertainment, have a good long run with grandkids to show for it, and ultimately benefit the original course in his life.

Not bad, Not bad at all, Mister A.

[Zer0 Kay]

I owe that man much. He is indirectly responsible for me having a family... but so are Gary Gygax, Steve Jackson, Jordan Weisman, L. Ross Babcock III and Kevin Siembieda.

Spoiler:

-I got into RPGs because of AD&D
-Robotech Aired on the Cartoon Channel
-I picked up a copy of Car Wars at a game shop (Bosco's in Anchorage, AK)
-I traded that to a guy who played Car Wars and had a Battletech Tech manual because it had a Veritech fighter on it, so I thought it was Robotech related
-At a JROTC mini-bootcamp I met a guy because he saw me reading the manual and I said I was into battletech because it was the closest game to Robotech, he informed me that his friend had the RT RPG
-I Got into RT RPG, then all the rest of PBs games and when Rifts came out picked that up
-I was running a Rifts game for a friend and his sister came home from college
-I said hi... now we've been married for more than half our lives and have five kids

Thank you sir.