Bruce Geller

Bruce Bernard Geller (October 13, 1930 – May 21, 1978) was an American lyricist, screenwriter, director, television producer, and Broadway book writer. Born in New York City into a Jewish family, he was the son of Dorothy (née Friedlander) and Abraham N. Geller, a General Sessions judge. Geller graduated from Yale University in 1952, having studied psychology and sociology and participated extensively in theater during his time there.

Following his graduation, Geller began his professional career writing scripts for the DuMont Television Network, contributing to programs such as Jimmy Hughes, Rookie Cop in 1953. Alongside his television work, he pursued musical theater, writing the book and lyrics for Livin' the Life in 1957 and All in Love in 1961. Both productions achieved only modest success on Broadway. He eventually relocated from New York to Los Angeles, where he wrote scripts for episodes of several television series, among them Zane Grey Theater, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Rebel, and The Rifleman. For the 1964–1965 season, he served as co-executive producer of Rawhide.

It was during his time on Rawhide that Geller conceived the idea for a new espionage series. In 1966, he created and produced Mission: Impossible for CBS, also writing the pilot episode himself. The series ran until 1973 and became the accomplishment for which Geller is most widely remembered. The show earned him an Emmy Award in 1966 as producer, as well as an additional Emmy for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama. During its early seasons, a photograph of Geller appeared in the dossier of Impossible Missions Force agents reviewed each week by characters Briggs and Phelps, and was visible on screen in episodes including "Memory," "Operation Rogosh," and "Operation - Heart." The series was later revived on ABC, airing from 1988 to 1990.

Geller also wrote, produced, and directed for Mannix, the detective drama that ran from 1967 to 1975 and received two Emmy nominations. In 1973, he produced and directed his sole feature film, Harry in Your Pocket, starring James Coburn and Walter Pidgeon.

Geller died on May 21, 1978, when the Cessna Skymaster he was piloting crashed into Buena Vista Canyon near Santa Barbara, California, after encountering fog. He is interred at the Jewish Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.