George Schaefer
Directing
Born: December 16, 1920 · Wallingford, Connecticut, USA
Died: September 10, 1997 (aged 76)
Highest Rated
Biography
George Louis Schaefer (December 16, 1920 – September 10, 1997) was an American director of television and Broadway theatre, who was active from the 1950s to the 1990s. Schaefer was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, and lived in Oak Park, Illinois for much of his boyhood and young adulthood. He was the son of Elsie (née Otterbein) and Louis Schaefer, who worked in sales. Schaefer studied stage directing at the Yale School of Drama. He began his directing career while serving in the U.S. Army Special Services during World War II. He directed over 50 plays for the troops. After being discharged, he directed for the Broadway theatre. His first production was of Shakespeare's Hamlet starring Maurice Evans. In 1953, Schaefer won a Tony Award for his production of The Teahouse of the August Moon which he co-produced with Evans. During the Golden Age of Television, Schaefer directed numerous live TV adaptations of Broadway plays for NBC's Hallmark Hall of Fame. His first episode for Hallmark was an adaptation of his Broadway staging of Hamlet starring Evans. In the 1980s, several of his productions for Hallmark aired in syndication under the title George Schaefer Showcase Theatre. His television work garnered him five Emmy wins out of 21 total nominations. He also won four Directors Guild of America Awards out of 17 nominations. He holds the record for the most DGA Award nominations. He also directed five theatrical films, but to limited success.
Known for
Photos (1)
Movies (1)
Directing (68)
Alcoa Premiere
Director
Kraft Mystery Theatre
Director
Fallen Angel
Assistant Director
Lincoln
Director
The Bunker
Director
Blind Ambition
Director
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Director
People vs. Jean Harris
Director
Stone Pillow
Director
Pendulum
Director
Victoria Regina
Director
The Tempest
Director
Answers
Director
An Enemy of the People
Director
Doctors' Wives
Director
First, You Cry
Director
Kiss Me, Kate
Director
Gideon
Director
Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry
Director
F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Last of the Belles
Director
Right of Way
Director
Alice in Wonderland
Director
The File on Devlin
Director
Inherit the Wind
Director
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino
Director
The Admirable Crichton
Director
In This House of Brede
Director
Arsenic & Old Lace
Director
Generation
Director
The Lark
Director
The Holy Terror
Director
The Girl Called Hatter Fox
Director
Once Upon a Scoundrel
Director
Macbeth
Director
Macbeth
Director
Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure
Director
Amelia Earhart
Director
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Director
The Man Upstairs
Director
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Director
Harvey
Director
Meet Me in St. Louis
Director
Laura Lansing Slept Here
Director
One Touch of Venus
Director
Our Town
Director
Soldier in Love
Director
Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates
Director
The Yeomen of the Guard
Director
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
Director
Blithe Spirit
Director
Elizabeth the Queen
Director
Children in the Crossfire
Director
A Cry of Angels
Director
Saint Joan
Director
A Doll's House
Director
The Fantasticks
Director
Little Moon of Alban
Director
Pygmalion
Director
Who'll Save Our Children?
Director
The Invincible Mr. Disraeli
Director
A Time For Love
Director
The Little Foxes
Director
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Director
The Deadly Game
Director
The Second Barry Manilow Special
Director
A War of Children
Director
Little Moon of Alban
Director
The Gift of the Magi
Director
Writing (3)
Producing (37)
Lincoln
Producer
The Bunker
Producer
Blind Ambition
Producer
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Producer
People vs. Jean Harris
Producer
The Tempest
Producer
An Enemy of the People
Producer
Kiss Me, Kate
Producer
Gideon
Producer
Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry
Producer
The File on Devlin
Executive Producer
Inherit the Wind
Producer
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino
Producer
The Admirable Crichton
Producer
Arsenic & Old Lace
Producer
The Lark
Producer
The Holy Terror
Producer
The Girl Called Hatter Fox
Producer
Macbeth
Producer
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Producer
The Man Upstairs
Producer
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Producer
Laura Lansing Slept Here
Producer
Our Town
Producer
The Yeomen of the Guard
Producer
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
Producer
Blithe Spirit
Producer
Elizabeth the Queen
Producer
Children in the Crossfire
Producer
A Doll's House
Producer
The Fantasticks
Producer
Little Moon of Alban
Producer
Pygmalion
Producer
Who'll Save Our Children?
Producer
The Little Foxes
Producer
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Producer
The Gift of the Magi
Producer