Neal Israel
Neal Israel has sustained an enduring career in Hollywood as a writer, director, producer, and even an occasional actor, though he is best known for writing a few hit comedies of the 1980s, including "Police Academy" and "Bachelor Party." He broke into the business as a writer on the animated series "Yogi's Gang" in the early '70s before following with his first feature, sharing both writing and directing credit on "Tunnel Vision," an unsuccessful string of sketches about an uncensored TV station. Other writing, directing, and minor acting gigs followed, leading up to the wildly popular "Police Academy," which he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Pat Proft. That same year, Israel directed the Tom Hanks comedy "Bachelor Party," again sharing writing credit with Proft. Though his follow-up directorial effort, "Moving Violations," received little praise, his next script, for the goofy science fiction campus comedy "Real Genius," helped create a cult favorite and boosted star Val Kilmer's career. Israel worked on less notable projects after that, co-writing the "Talking" baby sequel, "Look Who's Talking Too," and teaming with then-wife Amy Heckerling (they divorced in 1984). While mostly directing and producing for TV movies and series since then, Israel also served as executive producer on the Oscar-nominated fantasy "Finding Neverland."
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet |
|
Jinxed | Screenwriter | - | 2013 |
No Score Yet |
|
Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation | Executive Producer | - | 2008 |
82% |
|
Finding Neverland | Executive Producer | $51.7M | 2004 |
No Score Yet |
|
National Lampoon's Thanksgiving Reunion | Director | - | 2003 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Brady Bunch in the White House | Director | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Poof Point | Director | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Hounded | Director | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights | Screenwriter | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Runner | Executive Producer | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Chocolate for Breakfast | Executive Producer | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
National Lampoon's Dad's Week Off |
Director, Writer |
- | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Kidz in the Wood | Director | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare |
Director, Screenwriter, Producer |
- | 1995 |
23% |
|
Surf Ninjas | Director | $4.9M | 1993 |
No Score Yet |
|
Breaking the Rules | Director | $23.2K | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Cover Girl and the Cop | Director | - | 1989 |
50% |
|
It's Alive III: Island of the Alive | Dr. Brewster (Character) | - | 1987 |
No Score Yet |
|
Combat High | Director | - | 1986 |
No Score Yet |
|
Moving Violations | Director | - | 1985 |
77% |
|
Real Genius |
Writer, Screenwriter |
$130.8K | 1985 |
58% |
|
Police Academy | Screenwriter | - | 1984 |
54% |
|
Bachelor Party |
Director, Screenwriter |
- | 1984 |
No Score Yet |
|
Americathon |
Director, Screenwriter |
- | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cracking Up | Al (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tunnelvision |
Rabbi Rabinowitz/ Director |
- | 1976 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Zeke and Luther | Director | 2012 |
96% | 73% | Joan of Arcadia | Director | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Family Affair | Director | 2002-2003 |
59% | No Score Yet | Do Over | Director | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Shasta | Director | 1999-2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Clueless | Director | 1997-1999 |
14% | No Score Yet | Love Boat: The Next Wave | Director | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nash Bridges | Director | 1997 |
No Score Yet | 88% | The Wonder Years | Director | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Baby Boom | Leo (Guest Star) | 1988 |