G. Anthony “Tony” Edens
G. Anthony “Tony” Edens passed away on May 15, 2021 at his home in Santa Barbara, California. Tony was born on December 8, 1940 in Lebanon, Indiana to E.W. “Bud” Edens and Mary Margaret Edens who preceded him in death. On January 23, 1991, Tony married Janet “Jan” Edens who survives him.
Tony graduated from Lebanon High School in 1959. Following, he attended Purdue University for three years studying engineering after which he was directly admitted to the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington.
Upon his graduation from IU Law School, Tony practiced law in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Always looking for new challenges, in 1976, Tony along with his 2 children, moved to California, (settling in Santa Barbara in 1977) to give the world of TV Production a try. There he began his decades long career in many facets of the entertainment industry. During his years as a TV Producer, Tony not only put several TV Variety shows on the air, but years before MTV, he was also one of the top producers in the very early stages of Music Videos. Once he made a name for himself in Hollywood, Tony created the company, Grey Wolf Productions, Inc., where he went on to produce shows with such notable personalities as Rachel Welch, Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, Barbara Eden and Wayne Newton. Later, Tony would produce 2 back-to-back TV shows, “Special Friends,” and “Special Friends 2,” with then Olympic Gold Medalist, Bruce Jenner as the host. Not content with his success, a few years later, Tony completely changed course and helped create Knightsbridge Publishing Company, where as President, the Company published 2 NY Times Best Sellers, “The Plumber,” and Ralph Nader’s, “Wining the Insurance Game,” co-written by Wesley J. Smith. By the mid-90’s, having spent a few years at MGM as Business Director of New Development, Tony later became an industry consultant and a talent representative, most notably representing Notre Dame Professor, Tom Morris thru the late nineties.
Tony was a dedicated husband, father and son. He loved animals especially his cherished cats. Tony had an infectious personality, which naturally drew his many friends to him over the years. He and Jan loved entertaining their friends at their beautiful Santa Barbara home, including their famous “putting and hot dog” parties on the miniature golf course they built there.
In addition to his wife Jan, Tony is survived by his daughter Kim (Parker) Faison of Goleta, California and his son Kent (Dr. Marilyn Vricella) Edens of Glen Rock, New Jersey; his brother J. Jeffrey (Portia) Edens; and his grandson Kyle Faison.
In lieu of services, family and friends will gather for a celebration of life on date to be determined. The family asks that memorials be sent to VNA Health and Hospice in Santa Barbara or an organization of the donor’s choice.