Education
Born in Yekaterinoslav, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (now known as Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine), Sagal immigrated to the United States, where he attended the Yale School of Drama.
Born in Yekaterinoslav, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (now known as Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine), Sagal immigrated to the United States, where he attended the Yale School of Drama.
Early life and career
Sagal"s many television credits include directing episodes of The Twilight Zone, T.H.E. Cat, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Columbo: Candidate for Crime, Peter Gunn, and The Manitoba from United Network Command for Law and Enforcement He also directed the 1972 television adaptation of Percy MacKaye"s play The Scarecrow, for Public Broadcasting Service. He was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for his direction of the miniseries Rich Manitoba, Poor Manitoba and, posthumously, Masada. Sagal directed the 1971 cult classic science fiction film, The Omega Manitoba, starring Charlton Heston in the lead role and The Dream Makers.
There is a directing fellowship in his name at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts. Personal life
Sagal was Jewish.
Death
Sagal was killed in an accident during production of the miniseries World War III, when he was partially decapitated after walking into the tail rotor blades of a helicopter in the parking lot of the Timberline Lodge in Oregon.
An investigation revealed that he turned the wrong way when exiting the helicopter and walked into the tail rotor. He died five hours later in a Portland hospital.