Jerry Golod, the veteran television producer behind the cult horror anthology Tales From the Darkside, has died at 87.
Golod passed away Wednesday at his home in Rancho Mirage, California. He had been battling cancer for a short time. His daughter, Dori Golod Howell, confirmed his death.
A Four-Decade Television Career
Golod spent more than four decades working in television. Over the years, he moved from advertising into major executive roles at CBS and NBC.
Later, he launched JayGee Productions in the early 1980s. He became known for recognizing unusual ideas and turning them into television projects.
His career covered children’s programming, drama, adventure and horror. However, his work in genre television remains among his most memorable achievements.
From Creepshow to Tales From the Darkside
Golod’s biggest breakthrough came after the success of Creepshow. The 1982 horror comedy was directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King.
Seeing the film’s potential, Golod approached Romero and producer Richard P. Rubinstein. He proposed bringing the anthology concept to television.
However, rights issues prevented a direct television adaptation. Instead, the collaboration led to Tales From the Darkside.
The series premiered in 1983 and eventually ran for four seasons. It remained in first-run syndication until 1989.
Moreover, the show attracted several major genre writers. Stephen King, Harlan Ellison and Clive Barker were among those who contributed to the series.
Romero also co-wrote the pilot episode, titled “Trick or Treat.” As a result, Tales From the Darkside became an important part of 1980s horror television.
Golod Looked Beyond Horror
Although horror became one of Golod’s most recognizable areas, his interests were much broader.
While reading Elliott Baker’s 1971 novel Pocock and Pitt, he became fascinated by a minor character. The character was an intelligence operative named Adderly.
That idea eventually inspired the adventure series Adderly. Winston Rekert starred in the show.
The series was produced in Toronto and aired on CBS from 1986 to 1988. Notably, it was among the early dramatic series produced in Canada at costs considerably lower than typical Hollywood productions.
His Early Years in Television
Golod was born in the Bronx on December 26, 1938. He later graduated from City College of New York.
He began his professional career at advertising agency Dancer Fitzgerald Sample. He eventually rose to the position of vice president.
In 1975, Golod moved to CBS. There, he became vice president of children’s programs.
During that period, he oversaw Captain Kangaroo and other educational programming. Then, in 1979, he joined NBC Entertainment in a similar executive role.
He later returned to CBS as an executive producer. These positions helped shape his understanding of both programming and television production.
A Career Filled With Diverse Projects
Golod continued producing television projects for decades.
Among his credits was the 1985 telefilm Brass. He also worked on Return to Green Acres in 1990.
A year later, he served as executive producer on a revival of Sid and Marty Krofft’s Land of the Lost.
Even decades after the original Tales From the Darkside ended, Golod remained connected to the franchise.
In 2013, he worked on another planned revival for CBS and The CW. However, the project ultimately never made it to television.
Remembering Jerry Golod
Golod leaves behind a long television legacy. His career stretched across several genres and generations.
Most importantly, his vision helped bring Tales From the Darkside to audiences. The series went on to earn a lasting place in cult horror television.
Golod is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ruth. He is also survived by two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandsons.
His work continues to be remembered by fans of television, horror and unconventional storytelling.
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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