Judge Wapner Dies at 97

by Susan Eskander

The Honorable Joseph A. Wapner, who was best known as presiding Judge of TV’s first reality show “The People’s Court,” died Sunday at age 97. Wapner’s son, David, told the Associated Press that his father died in his sleep at his home in Century City.

A native of Los Angeles, California, Wapner graduated from Hollywood High School in 1937 and graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelors degree.

Wapner served in the Pacific Theatre in World War II and was shot twice while saving another man’s life. He was honorably discharged after the Allied victory with the rank of First Lieutenant and three Battle Stars, the Bronze Star for Bravery, and a Purple Heart.

Home from the war, he met and married the love of his life, Mickey Nebenzahl, a beautiful and witty young journalist who had recently moved to LA from Texas. After getting a law degree from USC and passing the bar exam, Wapner settled into private practice. In 1963, Wapner was elected to the Los Angeles County Superior Court and was Presiding Judge for two consecutive years.

While on the bench in 1979, Wapner awarded the largest divorce settlement in history to Barbara Jean Carnegie, former wife of Jack Kent Cooke who built The Forum in Inglewood. Wapner also served as President of the California Judges Association and was a member of the California Judicial Council. Wapner initiated many reforms that helped streamline judicial operations that are still in use today.

Wapner retired from the bench in 1979, and the rest is history after he took on the role as the first presiding Judge of “The People’s Court” in 1981, a Ralph Edwards/Stu Billett Production.

The combination of Wapner’s charisma and take charge attitude launched “The People’s Court” into an overnight sensation and was the beginning of a whole new genre of courtroom TV shows that still exists today. The show became one of the top five syndicated shows in America.

Wapner reflected on his experience on “The People’s Court” “It was a happy marriage of my love of the law and the entertainment profession.”

TMZ founder and managing editor, Harvey Levin, served as Wapner’s law clerk on the show. Levin delivered a touching tribute during Wapner’s induction ceremony into the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the site of Judge Wapner’s star.

Wapner retired from the bench of “The People’s Court” in 1993 and later presided over Animal Planet’s “Judge Wapner’s Animal Court” which ran from 1995 to 1998.

He authored the critically-acclaimed book A View From the Bench.

Wapner supported many philanthropic organizations both financially and by volunteering his time. The Wapner’s are among the founding members of Brandeis-Bardin Institute (American Jewish University).

Wapner was preceded in death by his youngest child, Sarah, who passed away in her home in 2015 at the age of 56, due to heart disease.

Wapner is survived by his wife Mickey, sons Judge Fred Wapner (Audrey Schlesinger), David Miron-Wapner (Edna), and grandchildren Gabriel Wapner, Ariel Wapner, Samantha Wapner, and Michael Wapner.