DON MISCHER, the director-producer who put on some of the biggest live entertainment events in the world, died on Friday at 85. He directed four Super Bowl halftime shows in 1993 (MICHAEL JACKSON), 2005 (PAUL MCCARTNEY), 2006 (THE ROLLING STONES) and 2007 (PRINCE). He also produced the halftime entertainment in 2008 (TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS) and 2009 (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and the E STREET BAND). Mischer helmed the opening ceremony for the 1996 Atlanta Games -- he said that he was “one of only five people who knew in advance” that late boxer MUHAMMAD ALI was the one lighting the torch -- and produced the kickoff of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, the first major global event held in the wake of 9/11 (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/12).
Don Mischer, director-producer of Super Bowl halftime shows and Olympics openers, dies at 85
