George Schaefer

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George Louis Schaefer (born December 16, 1920 in Wallingford , Connecticut , † September 10, 1997 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American film director , producer and screenwriter . He was also successful as a theater director .

Life

George Schaefer grew up in Oak Park , Illinois , and studied theater directing at Yale University . As a young man he fought as a soldier in the Pacific War and staged all kinds of plays for the soldiers at the front.

After his discharge from the United States Army , he moved to New York City , where he directed the play Hamlet on Broadway in December 1945 . In the years to come, Schaefer directed a number of plays, including Richard II by William Shakespeare between January and February 1951 . His most successful play was The Teahouse of the August Moon by Vern Sneider that between October 1953 and March 1956 a total of 1,027 times was brought to the stage. For this piece, Schaefer was awarded the Tony Award in 1954 together with Maurice Evans . His last play was The Last of Mrs. Lincoln , which Schaefer produced in December 1973.

In the 1950s, George Schaefer was also considered an innovative television producer who put together his own stage ensemble and delivered plays, including Richard II or the Bible motif Give Us Barabbas, as live stage shows directly into the American living room. For his production of Macbeth , he not only won the Emmy Award in 1961 , but also the Golden Lion at the Berlin International Film Festival .

It was not until the early 1980s that Schaefer began to direct feature films; one of his better known was the 1981 world war drama The Bunker .

George Schaefer was elected President of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in 1979, the union of Hollywood directors. He held the office until 1981. Under US President Ronald Reagan he was a member of the National Council on the Arts from 1982 to 1988. Most recently, he was elected Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television , an office Schaefer held from 1985 to 1991.

George Schaefer was married to Mildred Trares from 1954. The couple, who were married until Schaefer's death, had no children throughout their lives.

He died at the age of 76.

Filmography (selection)

Awards

George Schaefer has received the DGA Award 15 times and has received the award four times. He has also been nominated for an Emmy 22 times; four times in 1966 alone. He was decorated with five of these "TV Oscar".

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Schaefer, George
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Schaefer, George Louis (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American director
DATE OF BIRTH December 16, 1920
PLACE OF BIRTH Wallingford , Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH September 10, 1997
Place of death Los Angeles , California