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Allen Rucker
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Allen Rucker (born September 26, 1945) is an American writer and author. Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, he earned a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis (1967), an M.A. in American Culture from the University of Michigan (1969), and another M.A. in Communication from Stanford University (1977).
Career
He co-founded the video documentary group TVTV in 1972,(3), early practitioners of “guerrilla television.” TVTV shows, still being watched today, include the 1972 political conventions, the teenage Guru Maharaj Ji, Madison Avenue, Cajuns, the Super Bowl, the Academy Awards, and the Bob Dylan network music special, “Hard Rain.” (7)
He co-wrote (with Martin Mull) the award-winning cable series The History of White People in America,. He has also written or co-written numerous network and cable specials and documentaries, including "Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope" (Emmy nominee), "CBS: The First Fifty Years," "Big Guns Talk," a history of the Western, and TNT's "Family Values: The Mob & The Movies. He co-wrote the Emmy Award-winning documentary "Two Days in October" for the PBS series American Experience. (11)
His twelve books to date include three books on the TV series The Sopranos, including The New York Times bestseller The Sopranos Family Cookbook, and a memoir about becoming paralyzed due to transverse myelitis at the age of 51: The Best Seat In The House: How I Woke Up One Tuesday and Was Paralyzed For Life. (12)
Regarding “The Best Seat,” Publishers Weekly credited Rucker with delivering "straight-arrow honesty and a vibrant, penetrating wit while probing the most intimate aspects of contemporary life and human behavior." (6)
He has also co-written books with Martin Mull, country star Gretchen Wilson, and the book Hollywood Causes Cancer with comedian Tom Green.
Disability Advocate
Paralyzed in 1996, Mr. Rucker became chair of the WGA Writers with Disabilities Committee in in 2008 and served for 13 years. He also became co-chair and writer of the annual Hollywood Media Access Awards, celebrating disability inclusion in film and TV, and continues in that capacity to this day. He currently writes a regular online column about life after paralysis for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. (8)
Awards
TVTV’s guru documentary, “Lord of The Universe,” was awarded the Alfred I. du Pont/Columbia University Award in Broadcast Journalism. “The History of White People” won the WGA Annual Award in Comedy/Variety and the CableAce Award for Best Comedy Special. He was won a CableAce Award for “Big Guns Talk.” (11) In 2004, he was awarded the Writers Guild of America Joan Young Award for distinction as a writer with a disability. (6)
Service awards for The Media Access Awards include 2021 Silver Anthem Award and the 2022 Gold Anthem Award. (8) In 2022, Mr. Rucker received the Norman Lear/Geri Jewell Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to the cause of disability inclusion in film and TV. (9)
Personal life
Rucker lives in Los Angeles and is married with two sons. He has taught at the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. and Chapman University.
References
1. "The Bartian Chronicles: Famous Bartians!". City of Bartlesville. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
2. "Allen Rucker" in Contemporary Authors Online. Gale. August 29, 2007.
3. Cooper, Chet & Friedman, Gillian. "Allen Rucker". ABILITY Magazine. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
4.Hunt, Dennis (November 1, 1985). "Mulling Over 'History Of White People'". Los Angeles Times.
5."List of Creative Arts Emmy winners". USA Today. Associated Press. August 20, 2006. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
6. Encyclopedia.com Rucker, Allen, 1945
7. Subject to Change : Guerrilla Television Revisited:
External links