It was a celebratory day for legendary TV producer, director and writer George Schlatter on April 13!
The 96-year-old entertainment veteran made a rare public appearance to celebrate the premiere of his documentary Sock It To Me: The Legend of George Schlatter.
The 93-minute production tells the story of his illustrious six-decade long life and career, creating and producing some of the most memorable variety shows and specials in TV history, especially comedies and musical events.
A star-studded event
George made his first red carpet appearance in 18 months for the occasion, since he attended the 38th Carousel of Hope Ball back in October of 2024.
He was joined by Jolene Brand, his wife of seven decades, who held on to him on the carpet as he used his wheelchair for support before taking a seat for the rest of the photo call.
The documentary’s director Chris Coronado joined for photos as well, followed then by Lily Tomlin and Goldie Hawn, both of whom starred in Martin & Rowan’s Laugh-In, which George created.
© Getty ImagesGoldie and Lily posed for photos with George and Jolene, their sweet embrace captured on camera too. Goldie was also joined by her longtime partner Kurt Russell.
I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden also attended the premiere, later writing on Instagram: “I had a lovely evening tonight at the Chinese Theater for the Beverly Hills Film Festival screening of ‘Sock it To Me: The Legend of George Schlatter’. As always George is simply a delight!”
© Getty ImagesThe illustrious career of George Schlatter
Besides Goldie and Lily, the documentary also features appearances from the likes of Tom Hanks, Lionel Richie, Martin Short, Jimmy Kimmel, and many more. Per the Beverly Hills Film Festival, Sock It To Me “is a feature documentary chronicling the six-decade career of pioneering producer, director, and writer George Schlatter.”
“As the creative force behind Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, Schlatter revolutionized television comedy with rapid-fire satire and enduring catchphrases that reshaped American pop culture,” the official description continues.
© Getty Images“He later broke new ground again with Real People, anticipating the rise of modern reality programming. Featuring candid interviews with Lily Tomlin, Tom Hanks, Goldie Hawn, and others, the film explores Schlatter’s lasting influence on comedy, television, and the cultural conversation.”
George not only created Laugh-In, but also worked on shows like The Judy Garland Show, Fabulous Funnies and The Dinah Shore Chevy Show in the ’60s, plus created specials for the likes of Muhammad Ali, Richard Pryor, Dustin Hoffman, Harrison Ford, Liza Minnelli, Cher, Sammy Davis Jr., and many more.
© Getty ImagesHe has received 15 Emmy nominations throughout the course of his career, winning twice for Laugh-In, and also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. George also owns The Editing Company, a renowned post-production facility in Hollywood. He married Jolene in 1956, who herself appeared on several of comedian Ernie Kovacs’ productions, and they share two daughters.
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