Background
Tinker was born in Stamford, Connecticut, the son of Margaret (née Hessin) and Arthur Almerin Tinker.
Tinker was born in Stamford, Connecticut, the son of Margaret (née Hessin) and Arthur Almerin Tinker.
Dartmouth College.
Tinker is the former husband of actress Mary Tyler Moore. During World World War II, Tinker served in the Army Air Corps Reserve. Tinker married Moore in 1962, and in 1969 they formed the television production company Media Technology Monitor Enterprises.
While creating Media Technology Monitor Enterprises, Tinker hired Room 222 writers James L. Brooks and Allan Burns to create and produce the company"s first television series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Media Technology Monitor Enterprises produced such popular American sitcoms and drama television series such as Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues and Saint Elsewhere. After his divorce from Moore in 1981, Tinker left Media Technology Monitor Enterprises to become the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of then perennial last-place American television network (in terms of Nielsen ratings and profits) National Broadcasting Company. During Tinker"s tenure in National Broadcasting Company"s top position, the network regained ratings and produced popular shows like The Cosby Show, Family Ties, The Golden Girls, Cheers, Night Court, and Hill Street Blues.
After leaving National Broadcasting Company, Tinker tried to repeat his success with Media Technology Monitor Enterprises by forming GTG (Grant Tinker-Gannett) Entertainment but the business venture failed and the company closed in 1990. Tinker was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1997.
Tinker is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
He is the father of producers Mark Tinker and John Tinker. In 1994, Tinker wrote a book with Bud Rukeyser titled Tinker in Television.