John C. Hench Endowed Division Chair
and SCA Professor

Assistant to the Vice Deans
of Faculty and Academic Affairs

SCA Professor and Founder of the
Media Institute for Social Change

SCA Professor,
Film & Television Production Division

SCA Facilities,
Building Systems Manager

SCA Professor, John Wells Division
of Writing for Screen and Television

Mark Burnett Endowed Chair
and Head of Summer Program

1929 – 2024
Agent & SCA Associate Dean for Industry Relations

After spending 47 years at the William Morris Agency (WMA), Auerbach came to the School of Cinematic Arts in 1993 to establish the Office of Industry Relations. One of the most well-known agents in the business, Auerbach’s was said to have a “golden rolodex” of contacts. His clients included Elvis Presley, who he booked on his first television appearance, Norman Jewison, Bernardo Bertolucci, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, Bea Arthur, Alan Alda, and many more. He retired from SCA in 2018, having spent 25 years leveraging his relationships to help countless School of Cinematic Arts students, faculty and staff make connections that would further their careers, or the School’s programs.

Auerbach is survived by his three sons David, Bruce, and Stephen, six grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

1926 – 2024
Broadcasting Executive & SCA Professor

Richard “Dick” Block taught TV station management at the School of Cinematic Arts for many years, drawing on knowledge accrued in decades spent planning and launching television stations across the United States. As the head of Kaiser Broadcasting, he established independent television stations in national markets including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit and San Francisco. He was also instrumental in launching the Weather Channel and the Game Show Network. Block served on the boards of many industry organizations, including the National Association of Broadcasters, the Association of Independent TV Stations, the TV Bureau of Advertising, and Broadcast Education Association. He is survived by his son Nick Block, daughter Julie Grunsky, four grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.

1955-2024
Cinematic Arts Archivist & USC Alumnus

After graduating from the university in 1977, Comstock spent his entire professional career working at the Cinematic Arts Library (formerly the Cinema-Television Library). Comstock was known for a meticulous attention to detail that was valued by everyone who needed extensive help with Cinema research, and benefitted from receiving Ned’s “research packages”—detailed copies, notes, suggestions, insider stories, and rare finds. As Bill Whittington, former assistant chair in the Division of Cinema and Media Studies noted: “Ned’s acumen for all things cinematic was often hidden by his low-key demeanor, but his enthusiasm for research was irrepressible. Ned’s life’s work affirms his understanding that archives are not merely repositories for storage, but a means of providing access and context for what remains of the past.” Comstock’s contributions are noted in the credits and acknowledgments of numerous films, books, and other media.

1940 – 2024
Agent & SCA Board Member

Gabler gained prominence at International Creative Management (ICM), rising through the ranks to become Executive Vice President and head of Worldwide Television. He was then recruited to Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to lead its television division, and became managing partner and co-chairman there. Gabler had a long relationship with David Letterman, securing the deals that would make Letterman a force in late night television, and working as a consultant to Letterman’s company Worldwide Pants. Other Gabler clients included Mel Brooks, Aaron Spelling, Jerry Bruckheimer, John Wells and companies led by Mel Brooks; Steven Spielberg; Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, and Susan Harris; and Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. Gabler was a longtime member of the School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors, and also sat on boards for the Museum of Television & Radio and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He also served as Vice President of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society.

Gabler is survived by his wife, producer Elizabeth, daughters Annalise Gabler and Jennifer Gabler Rawlings, sister Melina Gabler, and four grandchildren.

1960 – 2024
Producer & SCA Alumnus and Board Member

Known as one of the filmmakers who brough the value of a film school education into prominence, Landau produced three films with frequent collaborator writer/producer/director James Cameron, that are among the industry’s biggest hits—Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Titanic (1997), which won 11 Oscars including Best Picture for Landau and Cameron. Landau joined Cameron’s company Lightstorm Entertainment, serving as Chief Operating Officer. He was previously Executive Vice President of Feature Film Production at 20th Century Fox, where he oversaw movies that included Home Alone (1990), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Speed (1994), True Lies (1994).

He is survived by his wife, Julie Landau; son, Jamie and Jodie; sisters, Tina and Kathy Landau; and brother, Les.

1942-2024
Television Showrunner & SCA Alumnus

Schenck, a prolific writer, was producer and co-showrunner (with Frank Cardea, his creative partner of 40 years) of the wildly popular television drama, NCIS. With Cardea, he wrote 48 episodes of NCIS and created the adventure series Bring ‘Em Back Alive, the crime show Crazy Like a Fox, and the drama Pros and Cons. They also wrote for Fantasy Island, The Cosby Mysteries, High Sierra Search and Rescue, The Great Defender, Soldier of Fortune, Inc., Relic Hunter and Hack. Schenck’s feature credits include Don’t Worry, We’ll Think of a Title (1966), More Dead Than Alive (1969), and Futureworld (1976), the first sequel to Michael Crichton’s 1973 hit Westworld. Other credits include The Wild Wild West, Branded, Hondo and Bonanza, and The Phantom of Hollywood.

Schenck is a double SCA graduate—he earned an undergraduate writing degree, and was in the first graduate production class. He is survived by his sons Kirk and Jeff, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.