Biography
Lew Grade — media tycoon with roots in the Russian Empire
Lew Grade (born Lev Isaakovich Winogradsky) was a British impresario and television executive. He founded the Incorporated Television Company (ITC) in 1954, and his productions included The Muppet Show, The Saint, The Persuaders! and Jesus of Nazareth. He was the brother of Bernard Delfont and Leslie Grade.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Tokmak (Ukraine)
Born on 25 December 1906 in Tokmak, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire, to Isaak and Olga Winogradsky. In 1912 the Jewish family left, escaping the pogroms, and travelled from Odessa via Berlin to London.
Family Tree
Subject
Lew Grade🇬🇧 UK
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Self (born there)
Isaak Winogradsky
Olga Winogradsky
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Origin
Tokmak (Ukraine)🇷🇺 Russian Empire
Historical context
Russian Empire · c. 1721–1917
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Tokmak (Ukraine). At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.
Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Founded the Incorporated Television Company (ITC), 1954
02
Produced The Muppet Show, The Saint, The Persuaders!, Jesus of Nazareth
03
Knighted 1969; life peer as Baron Grade of Elstree (1976)
04
Brother of Bernard Delfont and Leslie Grade
"All my shows are great. Some of them are bad. But they are all great."
Lew Grade
Sources