Renowned TV producer Charles Stroud dies

Updated: 8.05pm

Tributes have poured in for former veteran television producer and director Charles Stroud who died on Saturday, aged 75.

Stroud started his career at Television Malta in 1973 as a programme producer and director and was later employed at NET Television as head of programmes. He was then promoted to head of operations and production.

In 2005, he helped set up the media production company 26th Frame and directed numerous award-winning productions.

Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech highlighted Stroud's "huge contribution" to the party "during difficult times" as well as in the period leading up to the launch of NET Television.

"Charles will forever be remembered for his creativity, his television productions on NET TV but also for his work organising the party's political activities during the 1980s. Thank you Charles," Grech said.

In a social media post, broadcaster and close friend John Bundy called him “a gentleman” and thanked him for his “guidance, respect, love ... and good advice”.

Charles Stroud with his close friend and colleague broadcaster John Bundy. Photo: John Bundy/Facebook

“Charles, why did you leave, why, tell me? Do you realise another gentleman is gone from the few that remained? You left everyone in shock, [why] did you leave us so suddenly?” Bundy said.

He added he owed his success to Stroud’s advice: “Charles, I always looked up to you as an example, I always relied on your direction, and for that reason you were an important part of my successes in the media."

European Parliament president Roberta Metsola described Stroud as “an artistic production, a man of extraordinary talents and abilities which he shared with us”.

“Charles never contested elections, but he was a politician. He particularly used the stage to convey political messages. He had the ability to elegantly popularise politics through theatrical productions and mass activities without politics losing its substance. He did this even in the most difficult political times. His perseverance should be an inspiration,” Metsola said.

Amanda Ciappara Mizzi, head of programmes and business development at RTK103 and a former colleague of Stroud from her days at NET Television, reminisced about the time when he entrusted her with productions that “remain close to my heart”.

“I learnt a lot from you, especially how to respect the audience by offering them a quality product,” Ciappara Mizzi said.

Among his many  projects, both on and off screen, Stroud was also responsible for directing and coordinating events such as the Grand master’s Parade, In Guardia historical re-enactments, the George Cross commemoration event, Malta’s EU accession celebrations and the opening and closing ceremonies for the Games of the Small States of Europe.

Stroud's former business partner at 26th Frame, Alessandro Farrugia, expressed his shock at the news of his sudden death.

Farrugia reminisced that he first got to know him "as one of the pillars of NET Television" when he worked there until 2005. 

"We produced countless successful television productions together and worked on marketing projects and spent a long number of years sitting in the office side by side. I’m lost for words. My heart goes out for his wife Doris and his children Matthew and Katya and his beloved grandchildren," Farrugia said.

"The name 26th frame was in fact Charles's idea. Because in film there are 25 frames per second, and so the 26th one would be the exceptional one. Charles was exceptional. Always respectful, calm, serene and caring," he added.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici hailed Stroud’s “seminal” contribution to Malta’s audiovisual sector and “pioneering work” which led to the growth and enrichment of Maltese theatre, film and televison.