Rudy Vejar; Four-Time Emmy Winner for ‘Young and Restless’

Rudy L. Vejar, who won four Emmy Awards for his direction of “The Young and the Restless,” has died in Burbank. He was 57.

Vejar died Wednesday of complications of lung problems, his wife, Polly Jo Baker-Vejar, said.

Born Jan. 9, 1933, in East Los Angeles, he graduated from Cathedral High School in Los Angeles. After earning a bachelor’s degree in music from USC, he began touring nationwide as a singer and actor and performed on Broadway in “Guys and Dolls” and “Kismet.” During the Korean War, he served in the U.S. Air Force and in 1968 earned a master’s degree in music from USC.

Vejar started as a stage manager and assistant director on “General Hospital” in the early 1970s, later becoming a director of the daytime television show. In 1979, he began directing “Days of Our Lives” and the following year he started directing “The Young and the Restless.” He left the show last year to become co-executive producer of “Generations.”

In 1986, he received the first of four consecutive Emmy Awards for outstanding director of a daytime drama.

He is survived by his wife of seven years; sons Eric Vejar of Glendale; Kevin Vejar of Alhambra; Scott Vejar of Alhambra and Craig Vejar of Mission Viejo; mother Hortense Vejar of East Los Angeles; brother Charles Vejar of Washington, and sister Irene Medina of Alhambra.

A memorial service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at St. James Episcopal Church, 3903 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. Donations can be made in Vejar’s name to Child Help USA, 6463 Independence Ave., Woodland Hills 91367.