James Sheldon
James Sheldon wasn't just a prolific TV director -- he was one of the first TV directors, ever. Making his small-screen debut in 1948, Sheldon staked his claim to the broadcast medium for an impressive run that lasted into the 1980s. Born in 1920 in New York City, Sheldon was influenced by the films of George Cukor and Ernst Lubitsch. After college, he became a page at NBC and had early aspirations to be a radio or theater director. Starting out in live TV, he directed the schoolteacher sitcom "Mister Peepers," starring a young Tony Randall, and proved a capable hand on 1950s anthology shows such as "Studio One in Hollywood," "Armstrong Circle Theatre," and "Celebrity Playhouse." As the medium evolved, Sheldon followed. In the heyday of the Western, he directed "Death Valley Days" and "Gunsmoke." Meanwhile, on episodes of "The Donna Reed Show" and "Perry Mason," the director proved himself equally capable with comedy and drama. Some of Sheldon's most enduring work came during his tenure on Rod Serling's seminal "The Twilight Zone"; he directed "It's a Good Life," a terrifying child's fantasy become real that is often considered the series' best episode. Throughout the 1960s and '70s, Sheldon directed many of TV's top shows, including "The Fugitive," "My Three Sons," "M.A.S.H.," "Sanford and Son," and "The Love Boat." In 1986, Sheldon capped off his long run with an episode of the quirky comedy series "Sledge Hammer!" James Sheldon died on March 12, 2016 at the age of 95.
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
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No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Gossip Columnist | Director | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | With This Ring | Director | - | 1978 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gidget Grows Up | Director | - | 1969 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gidget Grows Up | Director | - | 1969 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Equalizer | Director | 1985 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cagney & Lacey | Director | 1982 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Dukes of Hazzard | Director | 1982 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Waltons | Director | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | Director | 1979-1980 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | McMillan and Wife | Director | 1974 1976-1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Alice | Director | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Good Heavens | Director | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Petrocelli | Director | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Apple's Way | Director | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Room 222 | Director | 1971-1973 |
No Score Yet | 87% | M*A*S*H | Director | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Longstreet | Director | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | That Girl | Director | 1967-1969 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ironside | Director | 1967-1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Felony Squad | Director | 1967 |
100% | No Score Yet | The Man From U.N.C.L.E. | Director | 1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Petticoat Junction | Director | 1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Fugitive | Director | 1963-1964 1966-1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Family Affair | Director | 1966 |
72% | 79% | Batman | Director | 1966 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | My Mother the Car | Director | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Trials of O'Brien | Director | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Route 66 | Director | 1961-1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wagon Train | Director | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Director | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Virginian | Director | 1962 |
92% | 96% | The Twilight Zone | Director | 1961-1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Tom Ewell Show | Director | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Perry Mason | Director | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Zane Grey Theatre | Director | 1957-1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Studio One | Director | 1953 |