Hollywood Mourns the Quiet Force Behind TV’s Biggest Hits

Michael Preece’s life traced the evolution of modern television itself. Beginning humbly as a script supervisor in the 1950s, he stood just off-camera on legendary productions like True Grit, How the West Was Won, and I Spy, absorbing the craft from the best in the business. When he finally stepped into the director’s chair in the 1970s, he brought with him a deep understanding of story, timing, and character that would shape some of TV’s most iconic shows.