William Dear

Capable Hollywood craftsman who has been busy as a writer, director, and producer in film and TV since the mid-1970s. Dear has quietly carved several niches for himself in the industry as a director of commercials, TV pilots ("Dinosaurs," "Covington Cross"), and direct-to-video comic films (the Firesign Theatre's "Nick Danger--The Case of the Missing Yoke"). Between 1983 and 1985 alone, he received two Directors' Guild Award nominations and 12 Clio Award nominations for his direction and shooting of commercials. Dear has also proven himself to be a canny creator of popular family entertainments ("Harry and the Hendersons" 1987; "Angels in the Outfield" 1994). Moreover he was a pioneer in rock video due to his much admired collaborations with former Monkees member Michael Nesmith on the short film "Rio" (1977) and the multi-award-winning "Michael Nesmith in Elephant Parts" (1981). Dear has also acted in a number of small film roles, mostly in his own features.