Theodore Jonas Flicker, an American polymath, was born on June 6, 1930, in Freehold Borough, New Jersey, and passed away on September 12, 2014. Throughout his illustrious career, he wore many hats - playwright, theatrical producer, television and film director, actor, television writer, screenwriter, author, and sculptor.
Flicker's educational background consisted of attending Admiral Farragut Academy in Tom's River, New Jersey, from 1947 to 1949, and then studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, alongside notable drama students Joan Collins and Larry Hagman, from 1949 to 1951.
Flicker's professional journey began in 1954 when he joined Chicago's Compass Theater, America's first theater of improvisational comedy, and later worked as a producer, director, and performer with the Compass Players in St. Louis. His success with the company enabled him to establish the Crystal Palace Theater, the only monthly repertory stage in the country at the time.
In 1959, Flicker wrote the book for and directed the Broadway musical The Nervous Set, featuring music by Tommy Wolf and lyrics by Fran Landesman. The show was revived in 2006. He went on to establish The Premise on New York's Bleecker Street in 1960, a basement venue that showcased a talented array of performers, including Tom Aldredge, George Segal, Joan Darling, James Frawley, Buck Henry, Gene Hackman, Sandy Baron, Al Mancini, Garry Goodrow, George Furth, Cynthia Harris, Peter Bonerz, Mina Kolb, Michael Howard, and Sandra Seacat (as Sandra Kaufman). The show eventually transferred to the Comedy Theatre in London's West End.
Flicker's work in motion pictures includes directing and co-writing the screenplay for his first film, The Troublemaker, in 1964. He is perhaps most famous for his political lampoon, The President's Analyst, released in 1967, starring James Coburn. However, he personally favors Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang, released in 1978.
As an occasional actor, Flicker appeared in Beware! The Blob! (1972),directed by Larry Hagman, and rode at full gallop as Buffalo Bill Cody in The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981),the directorial debut of cinematographer William A. Fraker, who also shot The President's Analyst.
Flicker co-created the television series Barney Miller in 1975 and wrote and/or directed episodes of several popular shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Night Gallery, The Streets of San Francisco, and I Dream of Jeannie. He also appeared as the Devil in a 1971 episode of Night Gallery, titled "Hell's Bells," which he wrote.
