Dr Reg Grundy was an Australian television personality and media entrepreneur. Born in Sydney in 1923, Dr Grundy spent several years in the army stationed in Sydney during World War II. Following his discharge, he began his media career as a radio commentator. In 1957 he adapted the US radio gameshow Wheel of Fortune, first for radio before moving it to Channel Nine. He established Reg Grundy Enterprises in 1960, which would go on to produce some of Australia’s most iconic game shows and television drama, including Sale of the Century, Neighbours, Prisoner, and Sons and Daughters.
Widely regarded as the “father of the Australian television production industry”, Dr Grundy was named in the Sydney Morning Herald’s all-time 100 most influential Australians. At one stage, he had production houses and offices in France, Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, Belgium, Greece, New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, Italy, Israel, India, the United Kingdom, the United States, Hong Kong and Holland. In 1995, he sold Grundy Organisation to Pearson Television (now Fremantle) for $386 million.
Dr Grundy was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1983, and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2008. In 2004 he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa by UQ. He passed away in 2016.