Howard W. Koch's illustrious career in the movie industry began in Universal's contract and playdate department in New York City, where he honed his skills before moving on to 20th Century-Fox as a film librarian.
He soon transitioned into production, serving as second assistant director on the 1944 film "The Keys of the Kingdom". Over the years, Koch worked tirelessly as an assistant director on numerous films, eventually joining forces with his professional benefactors Aubrey Schenck and Edwin F. Zabel to strike a three-picture production deal with United Artists.
The success of these films, including the western "War Paint" (1953),paved the way for Koch, Schenck, and Zabel (Bel-Air Productions) to produce more films for United Artists. During this period, Koch also ventured into television, producing the series "Miami Undercover" (1961) and directing episodes of popular shows such as "Maverick" (1957),"Hawaiian Eye" (1959),"Cheyenne" (1955),and "The Untouchables" (1959).
From 1961 to 1964, Koch served as vice-president in charge of production for Sinatra Enterprises, during which time he earned an executive-producer credit on the thought-provoking "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962).
In 1964, Koch became the production head at Paramount, before forming his own production unit two years later. This unit supplied major features to Paramount for years, cementing Koch's reputation as one of the industry's most respected and beloved professionals.
Throughout his career, Koch was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the film industry, including the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 1990 Oscarcast.
