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Claudio Guzmán (August 2, 1927 – July 12, 2008) was a Chilean-American
television director A television director is in charge of the activities involved in making a television program or section of a program. They are generally responsible for decisions about the editorial content and creative style of a program, and ensuring the prod ...
, producer,
art director Art director is a title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, live-action and animated film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supe ...
, and
production designer In film and television, a production designer is the individual responsible for the overall aesthetic of the story. The production design gives the viewers a sense of the time period, the plot location, and character actions and feelings. Work ...
.


Biography

Guzmán was born in Rancagua,
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...
, in 1927. As a young man, he enrolled at the
University of Chile The University of Chile () is a public university, public research university in Santiago, Chile. It was founded on November 19, 1842, and inaugurated on September 17, 1843.
to study architecture, following in the footsteps of his architect father. In 1947, Guzmán had been appointed set designer for the Chilean National Ballet, the youngest ever up to that date. Sources conflict as to when Guzmán immigrated to the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, but by 1952 he had begun to establish himself as a set designer in
Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...
. Guzmán had also enrolled at the
University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...
in order to continue his architectural studies. His lack of fluency in English deterred him from continuing, choosing instead to work at an assembly line in
Anaheim Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the tenth-most ...
. Guzmán later quit that job in order to study design, eventually being hired by
Paramount Studios Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production and distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount Global. It is the sixth-oldest film studio i ...
, where he became an art director. It was there that Guzmán met
Desi Arnaz Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986), known as Desi Arnaz, was a Cuban-American actor, musician, producer, and bandleader. He played Ricky Ricardo on the American television sitcom ''I Love Lucy'', in whi ...
, who brought him to work at
Desilu Desilu Productions, Inc. () was an American television production company founded and co-owned by husband and wife Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. The company is best known for shows such as ''I Love Lucy'', '' The Lucy Show'', '' Mannix'', '' The ...
, where he remained for eight years. During this period, Guzmán continued working in the theatre and performed on a comedy sketch with
Red Skelton Richard Bernard Skelton (July 18, 1913September 17, 1997) was an American entertainer best known for his national old-time radio, radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971, especially as host of the television program ''The Red Skelto ...
on his long-running television show. Guzmán began his career at Desilu by heading the art direction on ''
Where's Raymond? ''Where's Raymond?'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC, starring Ray Bolger. The series aired from October 1953 to April 22, 1955. The series' title was spurred by Bolger's Broadway stage hit ''Where's Charley?'' In the 1954–1955 sea ...
'', later renamed ''The Ray Bolger Show''. In 1958, he directed the '' Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse'' episode "Bernadette", a dramatic adaptation of the life of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes starring
Pier Angeli Anna Maria Pierangeli (19 June 193210 September 1971), known internationally by the stage name Pier Angeli, was an Italian actress, model and singer. She won the Nastro d'Argento for Best Actress for her debut role in the 1950 film '' Tomorrow ...
. According to Angeli, Guzmán shot the episode in chronological order "so the cast—just like the viewers—could feel the impact of Bernadette's discovery of the stream pointed out to her by the Blessed Mother." The program earned Guzmán an
Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...
in the "Best Art Direction in a Television Film" category. Guzmán also directed ''Border Justice'', starring
Gilbert Roland Luis Antonio Dámaso de Alonso (December 11, 1905 – May 15, 1994), known professionally as Gilbert Roland, was a Mexican-born American film and television actor whose career spanned seven decades from the 1920s until the 1980s. He was twice no ...
, and ''The Desilu Revue'', which consisted of vignettes performed by Desilu's stars for the ''Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse''. Other Desilu programs that Guzmán produced and directed for were ''
I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes spanning six seasons. The series starred Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz, along with Vivian ...
'', '' The Untouchables'', and '' December Bride''. Guzmán was also color consultant and interior decorator for Arnaz's Western Hills Hotel at Indian Wells. In addition to ''I Dream of Jeannie'', Guzmán directed such programs as '' Nancy'', ''
The Dick Van Dyke Show ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American sitcom created by Carl Reiner that initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961, to June 1, 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes spanning five seasons. It was produced by Calvada Productions"Calv ...
'', '' The Good Life'', '' The Fugitive'', '' The Patty Duke Show'', ''
The Flying Nun ''The Flying Nun'' is an American fantasy television, fantasy sitcom television series about a community of nuns, which included one who could fly when the wind caught her cornette. It was produced by Screen Gems for American Broadcasting Comp ...
'', ''
The Partridge Family ''The Partridge Family'' is an American musical sitcom created by Bernard Slade, which was broadcast in the United States from September 1970 to March 1974 on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. After the final first-run telecast on ABC in March ...
'', and '' Harper Valley PTA''. He was also an executive producer on the series '' Villa Alegre'', for which he received two
Daytime Emmy Award The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NA ...
nominations. His rare film directing credits included the 1975 comedy '' Linda Lovelace for President'', starring porn film actress Linda Lovelace.


Personal life

In 1954, Guzmán married Audrey Bashore, a graduate of
Duke University Duke University is a Private university, private research university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity, North Carolina, Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1 ...
. They divorced in 1959. His second wife was Anna Maria Alberghetti, whom he married on September 12, 1964 at Saint Victor Catholic Church in
West Hollywood West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757. History Most historical writings about West Hollywood be ...
. Their
wedding reception A wedding reception is a party usually held after the completion of a marriage ceremony as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple ''receive'' society, in the form of family and friends, for th ...
was hosted by Pierre Cossette in Brentwood. Guzmán and Alberghetti had two children together before divorcing in 1974. Their Benedict Canyon home was sold to
Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, ...
and Desi Arnaz Jr. Prior to the finalization of Guzmán's divorce from Alberghetti, he had developed a relationship with Micki Gardiner. According to his obituary, Guzmán married Gardiner in 1981; she was referred to as his wife as early as 1977 in the press. The couple subsequently lived in Chile until 1987 and remained together until Guzmán's death from
pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...
in 2008.


Filmography

* ''Antonio'' (1973) * '' Linda Lovelace for President'' (1975) * ''Willa'' (1979) * '' The Hostage Tower'' (1980) * ''For Lovers Only'' (1982)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Guzman, Claudio 1927 births 2008 deaths People from Rancagua American television directors American television producers Chilean emigrants to the United States Primetime Emmy Award winners