Leo Chaloukian, Emmy-Winning Sound Designer and Former TV Academy President, Dies at 97

Leo Chaloukian, a multi-Emmy Award-winning sound designer and former chair of the Television Academy, passed away on July 18 at the age of 97.

Throughout his illustrious 60-year career in sound, Chaloukian garnered four national Emmys and two regional Emmys. He spent much of his career at Ryder Sound Service, a company he later became the sole owner of.

Chaloukian played a pivotal role in the sound for National Geographic specials, David Wolper Productions documentaries, and classic television programs such as “Lassie,” “Death Valley Days,” “Sea Hunt,” “Maverick,” “Route 66,” “Gunsmoke,” and Jacques Cousteau specials.

He also oversaw the sound design for the 1967 film “The Graduate” and was instrumental in producing the sound design for 1969’s “Easy Rider” with his team of audio engineers.

Additionally, Ryder Sound Service contributed to the recording, re-recording, and mixing for “Love Story,” “The Godfather,” “Chinatown,” “Saturday Night Fever,” the first Star Trek movies, “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Tootsie,” and “The Killing Fields.”

Under Chaloukian’s leadership, the company achieved numerous Emmy awards, including the 1986 Emmy for Best Achievement in Sound for the television movie “Cross of Fire.” That same year, Ryder won the Oscar for Best Achievement in Sound for “Platoon.”

Chaloukian eventually sold Ryder to Soundelux Entertainment Group and became the company’s senior vice president in 1997. In 1970, he also served on the Motion Picture Academy Board.

From 1989 to 1993, Chaloukian served as the Television Academy president, and in 2004, he was honored with the Syd Cassyd Founder’s Award for his years of dedicated service to the Academy.

“My dad had a passion for everything he did,” said Kimme Chaloukian Black, Chaloukian’s daughter, in a statement. “When he walked and graduated with the Belmont class of 2017, he said, ‘Find what’s in your heart, and never let it go. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t achieve your goals.’”

Born on June 18, 1927, in Chicago, Chaloukian eventually moved to a ranch in Agoura Hills, California, in 1939. His parents had immigrated to the U.S. to escape the Armenian Genocide. As a young boy, he exercised horses for breeders and Hollywood stars like Joel McCrea and even won some horse races in Tijuana.

After his Navy service, Chaloukian worked as a jeweler and acted in several films. However, following a director’s suggestion to work behind the scenes, he decided to visit his cousin, a mixer at Ryder Sound. This visit convinced him that sound design was a career with many possibilities.

In memory of Leo Chaloukian, donations can be made to the Television Academy Foundation and its programs.

Chaloukian is survived by his daughter Kimme Chaloukian Black, his son Dale, several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Source: Variety, People