User:Stuartross1/ross
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Stuart R. Ross is an American media and entertainment entrepreneur. He is best known for finding the animated characters called the Smurfs and popularizing them in North America and elsewhere.
Biography
Born October 12, 1940 in Boston, Mass., Ross attended Bates College and Boston University and received his Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School.
As an executive at Allied Artists Pictures Corporation, he was responsible for bringing to the big screen such films as "A Man and A Woman" by Claude Lelouche (Academy Award Best Foreign Film 1967), "Belle du Jour" by Luis Bunuel, and "The Battle of Algiers" by Gilo Pontecorvo.
In 1969, Ross founded Transmedia Corp., a provider of mobile broadcast facilities for networks and independent producers. He then created the American Telesports Network (ATN), producing and broadcasting on ATN's own independent network such events as the first satellite broadcast of the Davis Cup Tennis Championship (U.S. v. East Germany), the World Light Heavyweight Boxing Championship (Bob Foster), the World Ski Championship (Heavenly Valley), World Championship Tennis, Milwaukee Five Hundred Racing and other major sports programs.
In 1976, while traveling in Belgium, Ross came across animated characters then called the Schtroumpfs and acquired North American and other rights to the property. Ross then launched the characters as the Smurfs in the U.S. in association with Wallace Berrie, Inc. whose figurines, dolls, and other Smurf merchandise became a huge American success story. The Smurfs came to television on NBC where they enjoyed immense popularity from 1981-1990. Ross is also credited with producing the American version of the theatrical film "The Smurfs and the Magic Flute".
In addition to his entertainment activities, Ross founded Equidyne Corporation, a private real estate and energy investment firm with holdings throughout the U.S. Currently, Ross is Chairman and President of InToon Entertainment, Inc., a producer of children's animated television properties.
