| Charles W. Koerner | |
| Birth Date: | 10 September 1896 |
| Birth Place: | New Orleans, Louisiana, US |
| Death Place: | Hollywood, California, US |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Film executive |
Charles W. Koerner (September 10, 1896 - February 2, 1946) was an American film executive, best known for being executive vice president of production at RKO Radio Pictures from 1942 until his death in 1946.[1]
Koerner is best remembered for firing Orson Welles from RKO. However, he was a highly successful executive, helping RKO turn around its financial performance from the George Schaefer regime.[2] [3]
Born to a Jewish family[4] in New Orleans, he worked in theaters after school and went on to attend Shattuck Military Academy.[1]
After the academy, he owned and managed a theater but sold it when he enlisted for World War I. After returning from the war, he managed several theater chains until one was sold to Hughes-Franklin in 1931 and he became the personal representative of Harold B. Franklin. Franklin later became the president of RKO's theater division and put Koerner in charge of the theaters in the Southwestern United States.[1]
Koerner was appointed vice president in charge of production in 1942. It was originally a temporary assignment during executive Joseph Breen's illness, but the job became permanent and Koerner was given a free hand over production.