Our Family
Connie Frank | Paul Frank | Darryl Frank | Todd Graff | Dennis Zablosky
Rich Frank
Owner
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| One of the Classic Cars in Rich's Collection |
Two years later, in 1992, Rich received a midnight phone call at his home in Los Angeles from a friend telling him that the Kornell Champagne Cellars on the site of historic Larkmead Winery was for sale and if there was ever a time to get into the wine business it was now. Rich, unsure of entering the business full-swing wisely offered half the asking price, and less than 24 hours later, he was an owner of the Calistoga winery.
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| Next to the Antique Barrels |
Rich’s passion for the Napa Valley and Frank Family Vineyards underscores a wildly successful long-term career in Hollywood. He was Chairman of Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications and headed Disney’s syndication arm Buena Vista. He was then President of Walt Disney Studios for nearly a decade and oversaw the development of The Disney Channel. Prior to his tenure at Disney, Frank was President of the Paramount Television Group, President of Chris Craft Television, one of the founders of the USA Network and also served on their board. Under Frank’s leadership, television and movie properties such as "Cheers," "Taxi," "Family Ties," "Shogun," "Winds of War," "Entertainment Tonight," "Golden Girls," "Home Improvement," "Ellen," "Regis and Kathy Lee," "Dead Poet’s Society," "Good Morning Vietnam," "Pretty Woman," "Father of the Bride," "Aladdin" and "The Lion King" achieved phenomenal success. He also launched Telerep, a television ad sales firm, and was a buyer and media planner at BBDO.
Rich was President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for an unprecedented six years, a board member of the MPAA for eight and is currently Vice Chairman and Executive Board Member of the American Film Institute.
In 2007, the Television Academy showed its appreciation for Rich’s contributions by awarding Rich the Syd Cassyd Founders Award, only the eighth time the Academy has bestowed this prestigious honor.
In June of 2011, he received an Honorary Doctorate degree from the American Film Institute (AFI), along with Helen Mirren and Spike Lee.
Rich is a partner and currently provides executive producing and consulting services for Prospect Park, a talent management and production company focusing on music, film and television that was founded in 2008. Through Prospect Park, Rich is currently Executive Producing “Royal Pains,” on the USA Network, and “Wilfred” on FX, along with his son, Paul.
Before his association with Prospect Park, Rich merged his brand, advertising and marketing strategy company, Integrated Entertainment Partners (IEP), into The Firm, one of Hollywood’s largest and most successful talent management companies, where he was named Chairman. The Firm was launched in 1997 by Jeff Kwatinetz, and made its most significant acquisition in 2002, when it bought the assets of Artists Management Group.
Additionally, Rich sits on the board of Ecoya and Napa Style.
Never one to rest on his laurels, the former adman turned Hollywood film and TV exec stepped into his role as Napa Valley vintner with ease and is actively involved with the winery operations. Rich is the proud grandfather of four. His son Paul Frank is Executive Vice President for Prime Time programming for BabyFirst, and son Darryl is Co-President of Dreamworks Television. Rich splits his time between Los Angeles and Napa with his wife, Leslie Miller, one of LA’s most loved reporters of ABC 7 News.
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