Al Rush
Former president, chairman of MCA Television Group
Al Rush, former president and chairman of MCA Television Group, died Jan. 14 of lung cancer at his home in Santa Monica. He was 76.
Rush worked for more than 45 years in the television industry, most recently as executive of special projects for the Paramount Television Group under former chair Kerry McCluggage.
He had served as chairman of the MCA Television Group from 1986-91 and was president of the group when it was formed in 1981, consisting of Universal Television, MCA TV, MCA TV Intl., MCA Television Entertainment and MCA Family Entertainment.
The native New Yorker graduated from Columbia Law School before joining MCA in 1956 as a vice president of MCA Artists. He left MCA in 1968 when opportunity knocked at NBC, where among other things he served as exec veepee of talent and program negotiations and exec veepee of NBC Sports. He also purchased theatrical motion pictures for the network.
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In addition, he worked with CMA talent agency and returned to MCA in 1978 as president of MCA TV Enterprises.
Rush is survived by his partner of six years, Dale Ann Engelson; three sons; seven grandchildren; and a sister.
Services will be held 12:30 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 21 at the First United Methodist Church, 1008 11th St., Santa Monica.
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