Wunderkind Crafted  Streisand TV Success
(Feb 1, 2008) - The Washington Post is reporting that famed television producer and director Dwight Hemion passed away on January 28 at his home in Virginia. He was 81. Hemion, along with his production partner, Gary Smith, were the two individuals most responsible for crafting a successful career for Barbra Streisand in television. Hemion directed Barbra's first two television specials, My Name Is Barbra and Color Me Barbra, and has been with Barbra for some of her most successful turns in front of a television camera. In 1973, Hemion won an Emmy as Best Director for Barbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments (CBS). In 1995, he, along with Smith, Martin Erlichman amd Barbra won an Emmy (Best Variety Special) for Barbra The Concert (HBO). In 1971, Hemion won another Best Director Emmy for his work on Singer Presents Burt Bacharach, the special most remembered for Barbra's outstanding guest starring appearance.

Hemion also worked in television with Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler. Neil Diamond, Liza Minnelli and Shirley MacLaine, among others. He won a total of 18 Emmys.

The Dwight Hemion-Barbra Streisand Resume
1965:  My Name Is Barbra (director)
1966:  Color Me Barbra (director)
1971:  Singer Presents The Burt Bacharach Special (director)
1973:  Barbra Streisand,,,and Other Musical Instruments (director)
1975:  Funny Girl to Funny Lady (director)
1986:  One Voice (producer)
1993:  The 52nd Presidential Inaugural Gala (director)
1994:  Barbra The Concert (director and producer)