Even though Steve Bell was a former KTLA exec, I met and worked with Steve Bell when he was running the Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills. A huge opera lover, his office was filled with operatic memorabilia. He was an incredible leader and I learned a lot from him.
He also moderated many a seminar at MT&R. Funny enough, he moderated the seminar which featured the premiere of the Deep Space Nine Finale, which Jeff Koga did a write-up for. (I was supposed to attend that night and got sick.)
I’m going to miss him.
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Obituary: Steve Bell
by Variety Staff
Former Fox and TCI exec and KTLA senior VP-general manager Steve Bell died of a heart attack Tuesday in Pacific Palisades. He was 66.
Bell spent 38 years working as an executive in television management, programming and production. He spent 11½ years at KTLA (1981-1992) where, among other projects, he oversaw the creation and development of “KTLA Morning News” in 1991.
He also led the station during its purchase by Tribune Co. in 1985.
After KTLA, Bell joined 20th Century Fox, where he ran network television production and founded Foxstar Prods. He then joined TCI, where he ran 12 cable channels for the Starz Encore Media GroupStarz Encore Media Group.
He was a director of the Beverly Hills Branch of the Museum of Television & Radio.
Recently, he taught courses at UCLA Extension and frequently lectured on the history of opera for the L. A. Opera, the Los Angeles Opera League and the Wagner Society of Southern California.
Survivors include his wife Bernice (Binnie); two children; and a brother, Alan Bell, CEO of Freedom Communications.
Services will be held 3 p.m. Friday at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles.
Donations can be made to Inner City Arts, attn. Cynthia Hamish, 720 Kohler St., Los Angeles CA 90021, or the Los Angeles Opera Education Program, 135 N. Grand Ave. #327, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
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