Douglas Steele Llewelyn (born November 26, 1938) is an American television personality, best known as the original host of the court show The People's Court from 1981 to 1996. Previously a news reporter, Llewelyn has produced numerous television specials, including The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults in 1986, and launched Judge Judy in 1996. Llewelyn subsequently returned to hosting The People's Court from 2016 to 2023.
Doug Llewelyn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Douglas Steele Llewelyn November 26, 1938 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1960-present |
| Known for | The People's Court |
| Spouse |
Dale Waterson (m. 1962) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and early career
editLlewelyn was born in Maryland in 1938 and later moved to Lancaster, South Carolina with his family, and attended the University of South Carolina.[1][2] He became an announcer at a South Carolina station while still in high school, and then moved to New York City, working as a page for Perry Como, and later moving to work for Chet Huntley in the news room. He also worked in New York as a producer for the Long John Nebel Show on WNBC Radio, and as a radio reporter for Armed Forces Radio.[3][4][5][6]
Career
editAfter eight years working in New York, Llewelyn moved to the Washington, D.C. market, working at WDCA-TV (an independent station), and then WTOP (a CBS affiliate), as a news reporter on TV and radio. He was eventually hosting a talk show called "Nine in the Morning", and producing specials under the title "Doug's World".[4][1] In 1976, he moved to KNXT (now KCBS-TV), the Los Angeles CBS network station, and began co-hosting the show "Noontime."[4][7]
In 1981, he was chosen to be the courtroom reporter for a new syndicated court room series, The People's Court.[8] Llewelyn would introduce the litigants of each case, get audience input before a verdict, and interview the litigants as they exited the courtroom. The success of the show made Llewelyn well known, including for his catchphrase at the end of every episode, "Don’t take the law into your own hands — you take 'em to court".[9][10] However, he concluded some episodes by saying, "If someone files a lawsuit against you and yet you're convinced you've done nothing wrong, don't be intimidated. The best policy is to go to court and stand up for your rights."
In 1986, Llewelyn was a producer of The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults, which became the highest-rated ever syndicated television show at the time. Though he was a primary arranger behind the program, he did not want to host it himself, leading to the search for a "big name", and landing on Geraldo Rivera.[1][11][12] He also produced the Return to Titanic live special in 1987.[13][14]
After the first run of The People's Court ended, and after doing coverage for the O.J. Simpson trial, Llewelyn helped create the Judge Judy show in 1996, and was a supervising producer during its first season.[1]
Llewelyn rejoined The People's Court in the reporter role in 2016, taking over for Curt Chaplin, who was reporter from 1997 to 2016 as well as narrator; however Chaplin remained in the narrator role even after Llewelyn's return.[15] He remained on the show until its cancellation in July 2023.
Other work
editLlewelyn has had cameo appearances in a number of films, TV shows, music videos, and has appeared in many commercials. He is the announcer in the 1992 music video for the Nirvana song In Bloom, and appears in the 1994 "Weird Al" Yankovic video for "Headline News".[16][17] Other cameos include playing a parade announcer in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) and store manager in Ice Cream Man (1995) (including a line where he says "by the way, you're not going to take us to court, are you?").
Away from the television screen, Llewelyn also co-created a business in 1980 called the "Electronic Press Kit" for movies. They did press kits for over 200 movies, including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), where director Steven Spielberg would also ask Llewelyn about People's Court cases he'd seen.[1][13][5] He later moved into doing in-house television segments for companies.[18]
Personal
editLlewelyn has lived in Hendersonville, North Carolina since around 1997.[1] He has two grown daughters with his wife, Dale.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f (4 November 2007). Fascinating adventures, Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina)
- ^ (12 February 1988) The Stroller, Spartanburg Herald-Journal
- ^ (17 May 1961). Delivering a Message, New York Daily News, p. 14 (photograph "Pfc. Doug Llewelyn broadcasts information about Armed Forces Day") (available via paywall at newspapers.com)
- ^ a b c (5 December 1976). New Co-Host, The San Bernardino Sun, TV Week, p. 18
- ^ a b Millwood, Joey (26 July 2013). Playhouse is Llewelyn family passion, GoUpstate.com
- ^ a b Sherill, Alice (6 September 1991). He's a Lancaster star, of courts, The York Observer, p. 10 (available via paywall at newspapers.com, accessed 11 September 2023)
- ^ (26 December 1976), Doug Llewelyn (blurb), Long Beach Independent, p. 83 (available via paywall at newspapers.com)
- ^ Duffy, Mike (16 September 1981). A Legal 'Looney Tunes' In 'The People's Court', Toledo Blade
- ^ Twomey, Steve (25 November 1981). Real-life spats become entertainment, Boca Raton News
- ^ Pennington, Lucinda (24 April 1982). The People's Court: Everyone's a Winner, Windsor Star
- ^ Rumore, Kori (20 April 2023). ‘The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults’: Watch the highly-rated, live TV special hosted by Geraldo Rivera in 1986, Chicago Tribune
- ^ (1 September 2022). The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults, One Year: 1986, Slate (podcast)
- ^ a b Bates, James (24 November 1987). Westgate Found Gold in Al Capone’s, Titanic’s Vaults : Firm’s Top Production Is TV Ratings, Los Angeles Times
- ^ Thompson, Taylor (29 June 2023). Hendersonville's own 'People's Court' host recounts his risky submarine dive to Titanic wreckage, WLOS
- ^ Nickerson, John (2 July 2016). ‘People’s Court’ reporter Doug Llewelyn, now 77, returns to show, Stamford Advocate
- ^ Smith, Ernie (28 February 2017). How Judge Wapner Launched the Phenomenon of Court Shows on Modern TV, Atlas Obscura
- ^ Tannenbaum, Rob and Craig Marks. I Want My MTV, p. 488 (2011) (quoting Dave Grohl as saying "we just wanted to meet Doug Llewelyn from People's Court.)
- ^ Kiss, Tony (7 March 2012). From People's Court to Playhouse, Asheville Citizen-Times