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Joseph Albert Wapner (November 15, 1919 – February 26, 2017) was an American judge and television personality. He was the first presiding judge of the ongoing reality court show The People's Court. The court show's first run in syndication, with Wapner presiding as judge, lasted from 1981 to 1993, for 12 seasons and 2,484 episodes. While the show's second run has been presided over by multiple judges, Wapner was the sole judge to preside during the court show's first run. His tenure on the program made him the first jurist of arbitration-based reality court shows, which are now a most popular trend in the judicial genre.
Birth Name
Joseph Albert Wapner
Born
Saturday, 15 November 1919
Died
Sunday, 26 February 2017
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers | Self - Ruled Buss Could Buy Lakers | 2022 |
| Sunset Beach | Joseph Wapner | 1997 |
| Malcolm & Eddie | Judge Joseph A. Wapner | 1996 |
| Muppets Tonight | Self | 1996 |
| Sliders | Commissar Joseph A. Wapner | 1995 |
| The Chuck Woolery Show | Self | 1991 |
| One on One with John Tesh | Self | 1991 |
| The People Next Door | Himself | 1989 |
| The Pat Sajak Show | Self | 1989 |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | Himself (as Joseph A. Wapner) | 1989 |
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers | Self - Ruled Buss Could Buy Lakers | 2022 |
| Sunset Beach | Joseph Wapner | 1997 |
| Malcolm & Eddie | Judge Joseph A. Wapner | 1996 |
| Muppets Tonight | Self | 1996 |
| Sliders | Commissar Joseph A. Wapner | 1995 |
| The Chuck Woolery Show | Self | 1991 |
| One on One with John Tesh | Self | 1991 |
| The People Next Door | Himself | 1989 |
| The Pat Sajak Show | Self | 1989 |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | Himself (as Joseph A. Wapner) | 1989 |
| Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz | Judge Joseph Wapner | 1985 |
| The People's Court | Self - Judge | 1981 |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Himself - Guest / Himself (as Joseph A. Wapner) | 1962 |
