Ralph Edwards Productions executive Barbara Dunn-Leonard died unexpectedly in her sleep on Nov. 9. Dunn-Leonard worked for the company for 26 years. She was 60.
A graduate of the University of Southern California, Dunn-Leonard began her entertainment career as a booker and agent for live venues representing Knott’s Berry Farm and Dick Clark’s Good ol’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Show as well asnotable artists such as Alabama, John Denver, Dan Fogelberg as wel
Before retiring in 2009, Dunn-Leonard directed the development of programming and marketing; produced live events and television shows. She also managed the company’s library. She is probably best known for NBC’s popular This Is Your Life specials, for which she served as co-executive producer. This Is Your Life: The Classics was later revived for 52 episodes at AMC.
She was also a co-producer with Stu Billet Productions of The People’s Court and was known as a pioneer in radio and television with such shows as Truth or Consequences. She also served as executive producer of Fox TV’s animated film Annabelle’s Wish in 1997. The movie sold more than 2 million units and raised more than $1.7 million for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of America.
Dunn-Leonard was known as a leader in cause marketing, establishing WishWorks to support the activation of the General Motors/United Auto Workers’ national sponsorship of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, which was the largest in its history at the time.
She is survived by her children Katie and Jeff as well as her grandchildren.
