Patriarch of Chicago Film Family

Donald L. Carlson, a Grayslake resident and 81-year-old patriarch of a prominent Chicago film family, passed away on Feb. 9.

A resident of Grayslake for the past nine years, he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) five years ago.

Along with his wife of nearly 55 years, Dru, Carlson had a profound influence on the local and national film community. His impact came through not only his work as a director but in raising four children who followed his and his wife’s career path.

For more than 30 years, Don, Mary, Rob and DruAnn Carlson, collectively and often collaboratively, have worked on hundreds of major motion pictures, television series, industrial films and commercials.

Their father, possessed with a quick wit, was much respected and beloved in the film community, said his daughter, Mary.

“We have all worked with many famous directors and when people ask us who’s the best director we ever worked with, we all say, `My dad,’” she said. “His crews always loved him. They all worked hard—because he really knew how to run a set—but they knew for the most part they’d be home by cocktail hour. That’s a rarity in the film industry.”

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri on March 5, 1930, Carlson joined the United States Marine Corps in 1950 and served as a sergeant in the 1st Marine Division in Korea.

After his service, he moved to Chicago where he went to work at Wilding Studios. The company was owned by his cousin Norm Wilding, who had bought it from George K. Spoor and Gilbert M. Anderson, silent picture moguls.

Named Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, the studio had produced films with stars that included Charlie Chaplin, Wallace Beery and Gloria Swanson.

Carlson started out in the film laboratory and, among the final group of professionals trained in the old studio system, he worked his way up in the field. On Sept. 14, 1957, he married Dru Smith, the love of his life and a fellow filmmaker.

Shortly after the 1958 birth of their oldest child, Don, the Carlsons moved to Glenview. They resided in the community for more than 45 years. Their community involvement included close ties to the Glenview Theatre Guild, for which Carlson created scenery and provided other creative support as his wife performed on stage.

In an award-winning film career that spanned nearly four decades, his biggest clients included Ford Motor Co. and Purina, and he often chuckled that his specialties were dogs, kids and cars. His humor couldn’t overshadow the fact that he directed numerous luminaries, including automotive executives Lee Iacocca, Henry Ford II and William Clay Ford Sr.

Known for his fabulous sense of humor, Carlson wrote Roll ‘Em! Wait a Minute, a hilarious and as-yet unpublished memoir of his experiences in the industry.

When he retired in 1990, Carlson pursued and often merged his passions for painting and sailing. As the captain of a few Catalina boats over the years, he often sailed with his family and many good friends out of San Diego Harbor, Chicago's Burnham Harbor and Punta Gorda, Fla.

He was also a prolific and talented oil painter, capturing many of the beautiful places he visited with his family, such as Chicago, Europe, New Zealand and Africa.

He is survived by his wife, Dru Carlson, sons Don (Nan) and Rob (Makiko), and daughters Mary and DruAnn Carlson, as well as grandchildren Donny, Hannah and Cathy Carlson, Melissa (Josh) Monroe and their children, Nathan and Ryan.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 410 E. Belvidere Road in Grayslake.

Funeral Mass begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at St. Paul the Apostle, 6401 Gages Lake Road in Gurnee. Interment will follow at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville. For more information: 847-223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.