Marc Daniels; Directed First 38 ‘Lucy’ Shows

Marc Daniels, who directed the first 38 episodes of the “I Love Lucy” series in 1951-52, died Sunday, three days before the death of the show’s star.

Daniels, at the urging of Lucille Ball’s husband and co-star Desi Arnaz and with the help of cinematographer Karl Freund, pioneered the three-camera system in which the fabled comedy series was filmed before a live audience. It was a radical concept at the time and made possible the highly lucrative syndication of that series and countless hit series to come.

Daniels, who was 77 when he died of congestive heart failure at St. John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica, directed only the first year of “Lucy.”

“I was offered another job at more money and took it,” Daniels said in a 1977 interview with The Times.

“Maybe it was a stupid thing to do. . . . But then we didn’t know we were creating history. We were just doing a show.”

Daniels had begun in television in 1948 as director of “The Ford Theater.”

His other series credits include “I Married Joan,” “Star Trek,” “Hogan’s Heroes,” “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza” and “Fame.” He was nominated for three Emmys and three Directors Guild of America awards.

Daniels is survived by his wife, Emily, a camera coordinator on the “Lucy” series, three children, a brother and a sister. A memorial service is scheduled Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Westwood Chapel on Glendon Avenue.