Emmy-nominated producer David Yarnell, whose work stretched from Buckley’s early shows to the 2018 film Can You Ever Forgive Me?, died Wednesday, January 28, at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 96
His wife, CAA agent Toni Howard, shared news of his passing. No cause was disclosed, but she noted that Yarnell died with her at his side.
Producer and director David Yarnell, whose credits include Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018), Bug City (1998), and Rock Concert (1973), was the husband of Toni Howard.
David Yarnell, born on March 14, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, earned a degree from Brooklyn Law School before continuing his studies at Cooper Union School of Art in Manhattan, where he discovered his passion for radio, television, and film.
He earned an Emmy nomination for producing and directing Joe Bob’s Drive-In Theater. His film Can You Ever Forgive Me? went on to receive three Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.
During his long career, he served as Vice President of Programming at Metromedia and RKO General, and later as an executive at Screen Gems. Together with his wife, ICM agent Toni Howard, he created the Toni and David Yarnell Merit Award of Excellence at Cooper Union to support emerging artists and architects.
For HBO, Yarnell produced comedy-variety specials with Roseanne Barr and Dolly Parton. He later founded DY Productions, focusing on documentaries, including the first TV biography of director Billy Wilder for PBS’ American Masters in 1998. His other credits include AFI 100 Years, a TNT series of 10 specials celebrating American cinema, and Television’s Greatest Performances Part I & II for ABC.
