Craig Piligian
Craig Piligian | |
---|---|
Born | August 25, 1957 |
Occupation | Television Producer |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 2 |
Craig Piligian (born August 25, 1957) is an Armenian American television producer, and the President and CEO of Pilgrim Films & Television. As an Executive Producer, he is best known for creating The Ultimate Fighter, American Chopper and Dirty Jobs series for Discovery Channel. In 2001, he won an Emmy Award as co-executive producer of Survivor.[1]
In November 2003, Piligian began producing Dirty Jobs, a series on the Discovery channel that focused on blue-collar jobs. The show ran for eight years and aired over 170 episodes.[2][3] The show ended in 2012.[2][3]
In 2004, Piligian worked with Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta to bring a reality show about boxers, called The Ultimate Fighter, to television.[4] The reality series followed sixteen fighters that lived in a house and competed for a UFC contract.[5]
In 2012, Piligian was 18th on The Hollywood Reporter's "50 Most Powerful List".[6]
In 2015, Lionsgate purchased a major stake in Piligian's Pilgrim Studios for $200 million.[7][8]
In March 2016, Piligian partnered with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to create The Runner, an original series about mobile devices for streaming on mobile devices through the streaming service go90.[9][10] In 2018, Piligian worked with Roger Ross Williams to develop High on the Hog, a docuseries depicting African American history through the lens of food, based on Dr. Jessica B. Harris’ book High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America.[11]
In April 2021, Piligian was named chair of Pilgrim Media Group and president.
Personal life[]
He is married to Lucinda Dickey; they have two children, Joseph Michael (b. 1986) and Amanda Marie (b. 1989).[12] In 2016, Piligian purchased a historical ranch property in Kansas for $5.325 million.[13]
References[]
- ^ "Outstanding Non-Fiction Program, 2001". Emmy Awards. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ a b Levin, Gary. "Discovery cancels 'Dirty Jobs'". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (November 23, 2012). "Discovery Channel's 'Dirty Jobs' Cancelled". Deadline. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Loretta Hunt: As The Ultimate Fighter ends run on Spike TV, a look back its origins". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The inside story of how 'The Ultimate Fighter' saved the UFC 15 years ago". ESPN.com. April 9, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ "Reality TV: THR's 50 Most Powerful List". The Hollywood Reporter. May 16, 2012.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 12, 2015). "Lionsgate Buys Major Stake In Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Studios For $200 Million". Deadline. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Vlessing, Etan (November 12, 2015). "Lionsgate Invests $200M in Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Studios".
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ O'Connell, Mikey (March 16, 2016). "Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Craig Piligian Partner for Verizon Reality Competition". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 16, 2016). "Ben Affleck & Matt Damon Reality Series 'The Runner' To Launch On Verizon Go90". Deadline. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Petski, Denise (September 24, 2018). "Roger Ross Williams & Craig Piligian Team On 'High On The Hog' Docuseries Tracking African American History Through Food". Deadline. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Biography for Lucinda Dickey at IMDb
- ^ "'Wild Tuna' creator Craig Piligian snaps up a historical spot in rural Kansas". Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
External links[]
- Living people
- Businesspeople from Michigan
- American television producers
- 1957 births
- American television producer stubs