William Clotworthy
William G. Clotworthy (January 13, 1926 – August 19, 2021) was an American television censor and author.[1] He was the primary censor for Saturday Night Live from 1979 to 1991. In addition to his television work, he authored several books on American history.[2]
Career
[edit]Early career
[edit]He attended college. After attending college, he was an NBC page for a period of time.[3]
Advertising
[edit]Clotworthy spent 28 years in the advertising industry before his career as a television censor.[3] He joined BBDO (Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn), a New York City advertising agency, in 1950, largely working in television and radio matters.[4] In this role he was the ad liason for many shows, including You Bet Your Life, Your Hit Parade, and General Electric Theater starring future President Ronald Reagan.[5] He later moved to the California office where his responsibities were expanded. He left BBDO in the late 1970s.[4]
Television censor
[edit]Following this, Clotworthy returned to NBC to become an executive for standards and practices.[3] He was the NBC Director of Broadcast Standards from 1979 to 1991.[4] His nickname at SNL was "Doctor No".[3]
Personal life and death
[edit]Clotworthy died on August 19, 2021, at the age of 95, in Salt Lake City, Utah. His death was announced by his son Robert. He had been in hospice care.[3]
Books
[edit]- Homes and Libraries of the Presidents (McDonald & Woodward, 1995)
- Presidential Sites: A Directory of Places Associated with Presidents of the United States (University of Nebraska Press, 1996)
- Saturday Night Live: Equal Opportunity Offender: The Uncensored Censor (Author House, 2001)
- In the Footsteps of George Washington: A Guide to Sites Commemorating Our First President (University of Nebraska Press, 2002)
- Homes of the First Ladies: A Guide to Publicly Accessible Homes, Museums, and Related Sites (McDonald & Woodward, 2010)
References
[edit]- ^ Yuma, Jennifer (August 24, 2021). "William Clotworthy, 'Saturday Night Live' Censor, Dies at 95". Variety. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Risen, Clay (August 27, 2021). "William G. Clotworthy, 'Saturday Night Live' Censor, Dies at 95". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Barnes, Mike (August 23, 2021). "Bill Clotworthy, 'Saturday Night Live' Censor Nicknamed "Doctor No," Dies at 95". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Clotworthy, William C.: Papers, 1954-2002". Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum. May 16, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ "Remembering William Clotworthy". Television Academy Foundation. August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2024.