Born in 1920 (some sources say 1925), in Minneapolis, MN; died October 14, 1997, in Los Angeles, CA. Director, producer, and actor. Averback produced anddirected hit television shows such as M*A*S*H and F-Troop, but his wife toldthe Los Angeles Times that he was most proud of his radio broadcasts in WorldWar II that entertained troops in the Pacific. His World War II humor and music show was broadcast on the Mosquito Network; his favorite character was Tokyo Mose, a spoof of Japan's Tokyo Rose. After the war he stayed with radio as an announcer on NBC's Jack Parr Show and the Bob Hope Show. In the late 1940s he also appeared on the radio shows The Sealtest Village Store and Let's Talk Hollywood, both for NBC. Averback moved on to television and film, appearing in the movies The Benny Goodman Story (1956), Four Girls in Town (1956),and How to Succeed in Business ... Without Really Trying (1967). His work intelevision was mainly as director and producer. Averback directed The Real McCoys (1957-63), The Dick Powell Show (1961-63), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-68), The Flying Nun (1967- 70), Columbo (1971), McCloud (1971), M*A*S*H (1972), Quark (1978), Matt Houston (1982-83), The Four Seasons (1984), and the miniseries Pearl (1978). His producing credits include Meet Corliss Archer (1954), the Tom Ewell Show (1960-61), F-Troop (1965-67), The Don Rickles Show (1972), Big Eddie (1975), Brothers and Sisters (1979), and The Dukes of Hazzard(1979-85). His work on M*A*S*H earned him two Emmy awards. As a television actor, Averback appeared on The Saturday Night Revue (1953-54), Tonight (1955),and NBC Comedy Hour (1956). He also produced and directed dozens of pilots,including ones for The Love Boat (1977) and Night Rider (1979).
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