Warren Bush; TV Producer, Writer

Warren V. Bush, an independent television producer and writer who said he tried to bring to the small screen the issues “of public moment and public importance,” is dead.

His wife, actress Phyllis Kirk, said her husband was 65 when he died April 16 of heart failure at UCLA Medical Center.

For four decades, Bush--known better inside the film industry than outside it--produced programs ranging from television movies to profile films on American presidents from Harry S. Truman through Ronald Reagan.

Most recently the head of his own production company, he was with the David Wolper organization from 1968 to 1974 in charge of development of such specials as “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” and the “Appointment With Destiny” series.

He also had been executive producer of network news and public affairs specials for CBS in New York.

He brought the multiple-camera techniques used in films to TV and encouraged news anchors to work away from their desks.

Over the years, his credits included “The Crucifixion of Jesus,” “Showdown at O.K. Corral,” “Surrender at Appomattox,” “Say Goodbye” and a revival of the George and Ira Gershwin musical “Of Thee I Sing.”

His productions earned more than 100 nominations for film and broadcast awards.

Bush’s forte was considered to be the biographical docudrama--the re-creating of events and personalities not available in film-clip form.

At his death, he was working on a book titled “Presidents I Have Shot.”

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters from his first marriage.