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George Schaefer

Directing 76 (deceased) years old Wallingford, Connecticut, USA ★ 0.6
Born: December 16, 1920
Died: September 10, 1997

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.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry
Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry Director 1986
Who'll Save Our Children?
Who'll Save Our Children? Director 1978
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Abe Lincoln in Illinois Director 1964
Generation
Generation Director 1969
C
Captain Brassbound's Conversion Director 1960

Filmography

Acting Credits (1)

Directing Credits (82)

Harvey
Harvey Director 1996
The Man Upstairs
The Man Upstairs Director 1992
Laura Lansing Slept Here
Laura Lansing Slept Here Director 1988
Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry
Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry Director 1986
Stone Pillow
Stone Pillow Director 1985
Answers
Answers Director 1985
Children in the Crossfire
Children in the Crossfire Director 1984
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Director 1983
Right of Way
Right of Way Director 1983
The Deadly Game
The Deadly Game Director 1982
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino Director 1982
People vs. Jean Harris
People vs. Jean Harris Director 1981
The Bunker
The Bunker Director 1981
Barry Manilow: One Voice
Barry Manilow: One Voice Director 1980
Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure
Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure Director 1979
Blind Ambition
Blind Ambition Director 1979
Who'll Save Our Children?
Who'll Save Our Children? Director 1978
First, You Cry
First, You Cry Director 1978
An Enemy of the People
An Enemy of the People Director 1978
The Second Barry Manilow Special
The Second Barry Manilow Special Director 1978
The Girl Called Hatter Fox
The Girl Called Hatter Fox Director 1977
Our Town
Our Town Director 1977
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart Director 1976
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln Director 1976
Truman at Potsdam
Truman at Potsdam Director 1976
The Land of Hope
The Land of Hope Director 1976
In This House of Brede
In This House of Brede Director 1975
Lincoln
Lincoln Director 1974
F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Last of the Belles
F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Last of the Belles Director 1974
A Time For Love
A Time For Love Director 1973
Once Upon a Scoundrel
Once Upon a Scoundrel Director 1973
A War of Children
A War of Children Director 1972
Gideon
Gideon Director 1971
Doctors' Wives
Doctors' Wives Director 1971
Generation
Generation Director 1969
The File on Devlin
The File on Devlin Director 1969
Pendulum
Pendulum Director 1969
The Admirable Crichton
The Admirable Crichton Director 1968
Elizabeth the Queen
Elizabeth the Queen Director 1968
Saint Joan
Saint Joan Director 1967
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night Director 1967
Soldier in Love
Soldier in Love Director 1967
CBS Playhouse
CBS Playhouse Director 1966
Blithe Spirit
Blithe Spirit Director 1966
Barefoot in Athens
Barefoot in Athens Director 1966
Inherit the Wind
Inherit the Wind Director 1965
Eagle in a Cage
Eagle in a Cage Director 1965
The Holy Terror
The Holy Terror Director 1965
The Fantasticks
The Fantasticks Director 1964
Little Moon of Alban
Little Moon of Alban Director 1964
Macbeth
Macbeth Director 1964
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Abe Lincoln in Illinois Director 1964
A Cry of Angels
A Cry of Angels Director 1963
The Patriots
The Patriots Director 1963
The Invincible Mr. Disraeli
The Invincible Mr. Disraeli Director 1963
Pygmalion
Pygmalion Director 1963
Cyrano De Bergerac
Cyrano De Bergerac Director 1962
Arsenic & Old Lace
Arsenic & Old Lace Director 1962
Victoria Regina
Victoria Regina Director 1961
Alcoa Premiere
Alcoa Premiere Director 1961
Kraft Mystery Theatre
Kraft Mystery Theatre Director 1961
Give Us Barabbas!
Give Us Barabbas! Director 1961
Captain Brassbound's Conversion
Captain Brassbound's Conversion Director 1960
The Tempest
The Tempest Director 1960
A Doll's House
A Doll's House Director 1959
Winterset
Winterset Director 1959
NBC Sunday Showcase
NBC Sunday Showcase Director 1959
Meet Me in St. Louis
Meet Me in St. Louis Director 1959
The Gift of the Magi
The Gift of the Magi Director 1958
Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate Director 1958
Johnny Belinda
Johnny Belinda Director 1958
Little Moon of Alban
Little Moon of Alban Director 1958
Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates
Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates Director 1958
On Borrowed Time
On Borrowed Time Director 1957
The Yeomen of the Guard
The Yeomen of the Guard Director 1957
The Lark
The Lark Director 1957
The Little Foxes
The Little Foxes Director 1956
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland Director 1955
One Touch of Venus
One Touch of Venus Director 1955
Macbeth
Macbeth Director 1954
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Director 1951
Fallen Angel
Fallen Angel Assistant Director 1945

Writing Credits (3)

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