Donald Tillman

Don L. Tillman
Born September 26, 1939 Marion, Indiana
Died June 27, 2021 Los Angeles, California
Don Tillman was born on September 26, 1939 to Isabelle McCarty and Hubert Tillman in
Marion, Indiana. He died in Los Angeles, California after a brief illness. He was 81 years
old.
Don grew up in Marion, Indiana surrounded by family and music. He started his career in
broadcasting as a Radio DJ in Marion, Indiana in high school. He studied broadcasting in
college and graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago. He hosted radio programs
and began working in television in college.
His career included working in front of and behind the camera. He ran TV stations in
Indianapolis (WTTV) and then Los Angeles (KTTV). He was an Emmy Award winning
producer, served as a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governing
Board and served as Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. He founded the
Trojanvision television station at the University of Southern California and taught thousands
of students the tools of the trade in the television business.
Don married Dianne Nelson on June 5, 1965 and they celebrated their 56th wedding
anniversary at the beginning of June 2021.
He is proceeded in Death by his mother Isabelle Tillman, his father Hubert Tillman and his
brother Max Tillman.
Don is survived by his wife Dianne, daughter Donna and her husband William, son Jeff and
his wife Margaret, grandchildren Andrew and his wife Nicole, Louisa and her husband Sean,
Sydney, Isabelle, Joseph and great grandchild Olivia.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Don Tillman’s name to the
Television Academy Foundation.
https://www.emmys.com/foundation/support/give