Who was Don Mischer? Primetime Emmy-winning director and producer known for his work on television dies at 85

Director and producer Don Mischer died on April 11, 2025, at 85, in Los Angeles. A 15-time Emmy award winner, Mischer was behind six Super Bowl halftime shows. He was also in charge of making and directing the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Don Mischer worked on many special TV shows featuring famous people. One was Goldie & Liza Together in 1980 while others included Sonny & Cher: Cher Remembers in 1999, Barbra Streisand: Timeless in 2000, and James Taylor: One Man Band in 2007, etc. According to The Hollywood Reporter, speaking about the idea of talent in 2008, he said:

“There are directors and producers who almost look at talent as a nuisance, and they can be at times, I’m sure, but you’ve got to demonstrate that you care about them and you have their best interests. And then when they score, it helps you as well.”

His first TV direction was in Great American Dream Machine on PBS from 1970 to 1971. Don Mischer was the director and producer of the 1983 musical documentary Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. According to Billboard, this was the show where singer and dancer Michael Jackson performed his signature Moonwalk for the first time.

During the 2008 interview, he shared that his work focused on creating entertainment and hoped to be remembered as someone who enjoyed his work.

Don Mischer’s thoughts on working with Michael Jackson

In 2023, Don Mischer sat down on The Rich Eisen Show where one of the aspects he touched upon was Michael Jackson’s Super Bowl halftime show in 1993. Reflecting on that, he said:

“Radio City helped them book Michael Jackson and they were going to go ahead and produce the show. I had a history with Michael Jackson and he said, ‘I want Don and his company to do this I don't want Radio City Musical because I trust Don I have been working with Don we had worked on a lot of stuff.’”

Don Mischer recalled that during the planning of Motown 25, most artists wanted to perform both a classic Motown hit and one of their newer songs. Marvin Gaye, for instance, wanted to perform a Motown song along with S*xual Healing, but the producers insisted each performer could only do one Motown track. They stayed firm on that rule.

When it came to Michael Jackson, they needed both him and the Jackson 5 for the special. Michael agreed to perform with his brothers but requested to also do his new solo single. At first, they said no but Don and Suzanne de Passe from Motown Productions, decided to see what Jackson had planned.

The night before the show, they gathered in the theater with a few others and watched Michael Jackson rehearse Billie Jean, complete with the hat, glove, and signature moves. After seeing the performance, they immediately agreed it had to be part of the broadcast.

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Don Mischer is survived by his two grandchildren, wife, and four children.

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