- Father, with Dawn Richard, of two sons, Mark Wolper and Michael Wolper, and a daughter Leslie Wolper.
- Wolper's hugely successful Roots (1977) started a proliferation of miniseries in America. His next milestone, North & South: Book 1, North & South (1985), became one of the most highly acclaimed television programs of all time.
- He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 1500 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on March 17, 1976.
- Began as a producer/director of documentaries in the mid-1950s. Time magazine labeled him "Mr. Documentary" after his The Making of the President 1960 (1963), aired on ABC, won four Emmy Awards including Television Program of the Year.
- Studied cinema and journalism at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and at the University of Southern California. At USC, he was business manager of the humor magazine, "Wampus".
- He has produced one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). He has also executive produced two films that are in the registry: Wattstax (1973) and L.A. Confidential (1997).
- His house in Napa Valley, California, with two lakes and a nine-hole golf course was sold for $9 million (1999).
- Sits on USC School of Cinema-Television's Board of Councilors
- Has 10 grandchildren.
- Although he was not related to them, Mel Stuart's children Madeline, Peter and Andrew always called him Uncle Dave.
- Was very good friends with director Mel Stuart.
- Following his death, he was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in Los Angeles, California.
- Inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame (1988).
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