Jack Shea obit

Jack Shea Dead: Ex-DGA Prexy and ‘Jeffersons’ Director Was 84

Helmer was Emmy-nommed for 'Designing Women' 

He was not on the list.

TV director Jack Shea, who served three terms as Directors Guild of America president, died Sunday in Tarzana from complication from Alzheimer’s. He was 84.

Shea, the recipient of the DGA’s 1992 Robert Aldrich Award, worked for 40 years in television directing and producing, mostly in sitcoms including 110 episodes of “The Jeffersons” and 91 episodes of “Silver Spoons.” He also worked on “The Ropers,” “Sanford & Son,” “Designing Women” (earning an Emmy nomination), “The Charmings,” “Growing Pains” and “The Waltons.”

Shea directed multiple Bob Hope holiday and comedy specials from 1956-66, including many taped overseas.  He also was co-founder with his wife Patt Shea of Hollywood-based Catholics in Media Associates.

Shea served as DGA president from 1997-2002.

“Jack was a tremendous president – a unifying force and a dedicated leader,” said Jay D. Roth, national exec director of the DGA. “He truly loved the DGA and spent nearly 50 years in its service, working all the while to bring other members – women, minorities and members of the directorial team – into Guild service. Jack, who was originally from New York, worked tirelessly to strengthen the bonds between the Guild’s East Coast and West Coast members.”

Shea was a native of  New York City and began as a stage manager at NBC in New York in 1950, working on “Philco Playhouse,” among other programs. He served two years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, stationed in Los Angeles as a TV and motion picture director producing educational films.

Shea is survived by his wife, four children and six grandchildren.

Donations may be made in the name of Jack Shea to Regis High School, 55 E. 84th Street, New York, N.Y. 10028.

A service for family, friends and professional acquaintances will be held at 10 a.m. on May 9 at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church,11360 Valleyheart Drive, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Director

Alex Datcher, Scott Grimes, Sherman Hemsley, Bianca Lawson, Joseph Maher, and Dorien Wilson in Goode Behavior (1996)

Goode Behavior

6.8

TV Series

Director

1996–1997

2 episodes

 

Tamera Mowry-Housley and Tia Mowry in Sister, Sister (1994)

Sister, Sister

6.3

TV Series

Director (directed by)

1995–1996

3 episodes

 

Maura Tierney, John Amos, Lynnie Godfrey, and T.E. Russell in 704 Hauser (1994)

704 Hauser

4.9

TV Mini Series

Director

1994

5 episodes

 

Della Reese, Larenz Tate, Mariann Aalda, Redd Foxx, Sylver Gregory, and Naya Rivera in The Royal Family (1991)

The Royal Family

7.3

TV Series

Director

1991–1992

5 episodes

 

Growing Pains (1985)

Growing Pains

6.6

TV Series

Director

1991

6 episodes

 

Jason Bateman, Dan Ponce, Sandy Duncan, Jeremy Licht, and Josh Taylor in Valerie (1986)

Valerie

6.6

TV Series

Director

1990–1991

3 episodes

 

Sunday Dinner

5.5

TV Series

Director

1991

4 episodes

 

Carol & Company (1990)

Carol & Company

7.4

TV Series

Director

1990

1 episode

 

Heather Locklear, Alan Ruck, Jerry Levine, Hallie Todd, and Holland Taylor in Going Places (1990)

Going Places

7.1

TV Series

Director

1990

1 episode

 

Shades of LA (1990)

Shades of LA

8.0

TV Series

Director

1990

1 episode

 

Joe Pantoliano, Christopher Meloni, Ned Eisenberg, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Andy Hirsch in The Fanelli Boys (1990)

The Fanelli Boys

7.5

TV Series

Director

1990

 

Stephanie Faracy and Martin Mull in His & Hers (1990)

His & Hers

TV Series

Director

1990

3 episodes

 

Jennifer Aniston, Mayim Bialik, Pamela Brull, Luke Edwards, and Kevin Scannell in Molloy (1990)

Molloy

6.6

TV Series

Director

1990

1 episode

 

Sugar and Spice (1990)

Sugar and Spice

6.2

TV Series

Director

1990

3 episodes

 

Married to the Mob (1989)

Married to the Mob

5.2

TV Movie

Director

1989

 

Hot Prospects

TV Movie

Director

1989

 

The Cavanaughs (1986)

The Cavanaughs

7.7

TV Series

Director

1988–1989

2 episodes

 

Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Finis Henderson III, Myra J., Cherie Johnson, Shawn Skie, and Michael Warren in A Little Bit Strange (1989)

A Little Bit Strange

5.9

TV Movie

Director

1989

 

Mary-Kate Olsen, John Stamos, Andrea Barber, Candace Cameron Bure, Dave Coulier, Lori Loughlin, Bob Saget, Jodie Sweetin, Blake Tuomy-Wilhoit, Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit, and Scott Weinger in Full House (1987)

Full House

6.8

TV Series

Director

1989

2 episodes

 

The Cheech Show

7.6

TV Movie

Director

1988

 

First Impressions

5.5

TV Series

Director

1988

1 episode

 

Matthew Perry and Kiel Martin in Boys Will Be Boys (1987)

Boys Will Be Boys

7.0

TV Series

Director

1988

2 episodes

 

Dori Brenner, Brandon Call, Paul Eiding, Garette Ratliff Henson, Cork Hubbert, Caitlin O'Heaney, Judy Parfitt, Christopher Rich, and Paul Winfield in The Charmings (1987)

The Charmings

6.8

TV Series

Director

1987–1988

13 episodes

 

Annie Potts, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, and Dixie Carter in Designing Women (1986)

Designing Women

7.2

TV Series

Director

1986–1988

14 episodes

 

Karen's Song (1987)

Karen's Song

5.0

TV Series

Director

1987

1 episode

 

Dan Hedaya, Mandy Ingber, Jean Kasem, Carlene Watkins, Timothy Williams, and Aaron Moffatt in The Tortellis (1987)

The Tortellis

5.2

TV Series

Director

1987

3 episodes

 

Sweet Surrender (1987)

Sweet Surrender

5.4

TV Series

Director

1987

1 episode

 

Elliott Gould, Natasha Bobo, Scott Grimes, Katie O'Neill, Ke Huy Quan, and Dee Wallace in Nothing Is Easy (1986)

Nothing Is Easy

6.9

TV Series

Director

1987

1 episode

 

Erin Gray, Ricky Schroder, and Joel Higgins in Silver Spoons (1982)

Silver Spoons

6.1

TV Series

Director

1982–1987

92 episodes

 

Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls (1985)

The Golden Girls

8.2

TV Series

Director

1986

1 episode

 

Our Time

4.8

TV Series

Director

1985

1 episode

 

Soleil Moon Frye in Punky Brewster (1984)

Punky Brewster

6.5

TV Series

Director

1984

1 episode

 

Mr. Success

TV Movie

Director

1984

 

Kangaroos in the Kitchen

TV Movie

Director

1982

 

Pen 'n' Inc.

TV Movie

Director

1981

 

Wendy Hooper, U.S. Army

TV Movie

Director

1981

 

The Grady Nutt Show

TV Movie

Director

1981

 

Marla Gibbs in Checking In (1981)

Checking In

6.2

TV Series

Director

1981

4 episodes

 

Norman Fell and Audra Lindley in The Ropers (1979)

The Ropers

5.9

TV Series

Director

1979–1980

22 episodes

 

Dena Dietrich in But Mother! (1979)

But Mother!

TV Movie

Director

1979

 

Marla Gibbs, Paul Benedict, Franklin Cover, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Isabel Sanford, and Berlinda Tolbert in The Jeffersons (1975)

The Jeffersons

7.5

TV Series

Director

1975–1979

110 episodes

 

In the Beginning (1978)

In the Beginning

6.1

TV Series

Director

1978

1 episode

 

Barry Nelson and Mason Reese in Mason (1977)

Mason

6.3

TV Movie

Director

1977

 

Insight (1960)

Insight

7.6

TV Series

Director

1960–1977

9 episodes

 

Roxy Page

TV Movie

Director

1976

 

What's Happening!! (1976)

What's Happening!!

7.0

TV Series

Director

1976

1 episode

 

Zero Intelligence

TV Special

Director

1976

 

Kate McShane (1975)

Kate McShane

6.4

TV Series

Director

1975

1 episode

 

Salt and Pepe

TV Movie

Director

1975

 

Bob Crane and Patricia Harty in The Bob Crane Show (1975)

The Bob Crane Show

6.0

TV Series

Director

1975

1 episode

 

Richard Thomas, Will Geer, Judy Norton, Ellen Corby, Kami Cotler, David W. Harper, Michael Learned, Mary Beth McDonough, Eric Scott, Ralph Waite, and Jon Walmsley in The Waltons (1972)

The Waltons

7.6

TV Series

Director

1972–1975

8 episodes

 

Apple's Way (1974)

Apple's Way

6.6

TV Series

Director

1974

3 episodes

 

Jodie Foster and Christopher Connelly in Paper Moon (1974)

Paper Moon

7.0

TV Series

Director

1974

2 episodes

 

Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson in Sanford and Son (1972)

Sanford and Son

7.9

TV Series

Director

1972–1974

15 episodes

 

Love Thy Neighbor (1973)

Love Thy Neighbor

7.6

TV Series

Director

1973

 

The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.4

TV Series

Director

1971

2 episodes

 

The Strange Monster of Strawberry Cove (1971)

The Strange Monster of Strawberry Cove

6.7

TV Movie

Director (directed by)

1971

 

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969)

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

6.9

TV Series

Director

1969–1971

9 episodes

 

The Monitors (1969)

The Monitors

4.6

Director

1969

 

Death Valley Days (1952)

Death Valley Days

7.5

TV Series

Director

1965–1969

14 episodes

 

Kam Fong, Al Harrington, Jack Lord, and James MacArthur in Hawaii Five-O (1968)

Hawaii Five-O

7.4

TV Series

Director

1969

1 episode

 

Dayton's Devils (1968)

Dayton's Devils

5.6

Director

1968

 

Bob Hope in The Bob Hope Show (1950)

The Bob Hope Show

7.4

TV Series

Director

1956–1967

41 episodes

 

Malibu U. (1967)

Malibu U.

8.1

TV Series

Director

1967

1 episode

 

Frank Aletter, Mike Mazurki, Jack Mullaney, Cliff Norton, and Joe E. Ross in It's About Time (1966)

It's About Time

6.0

TV Series

Director

1967

1 episode

 

Bob Hope and Eva Renzi in A Bob Hope Comedy Special (1966)

A Bob Hope Comedy Special

8.4

TV Special

Director

1966

 

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

7.6

TV Series

Director

1966

1 episode

 

Brooke Adams, Brian Corcoran, Joel Davison, and Burl Ives in O.K. Crackerby! (1965)

O.K. Crackerby!

7.1

TV Series

Director

1965

2 episodes

 

Hollywood Talent Scouts (1965)

Hollywood Talent Scouts

6.6

TV Series

Director

1965

1 episode

 

The Bob Hope Comedy Special

TV Special

Director

1965

 

The Jerry Lewis Show (1963)

The Jerry Lewis Show

6.9

TV Series

Director

1963

2 episodes

 

The Littlest Hobo (1963)

The Littlest Hobo

7.7

TV Series

Director

1963

2 episodes

 

Bob Hope Christmas Show

TV Special

Director

1962

 

Buster Keaton and Ed Wynn in The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers (1962)

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

TV Special

Director

1962

 

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956)

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

8.1

TV Series

Director

1960

1 episode

 

The Jerry Lewis Timex Show

TV Special

Director

1960

 

The Jerry Lewis Show

TV Movie

Director

1958

 

The Jerry Lewis Show (1958)

The Jerry Lewis Show

7.2

TV Special

Director

1958

 

Muscular Dystrophy Telethon

TV Special

Director

1957

 

The Jerry Lewis Show

TV Series

Director

1957

 

Producer

Marla Gibbs, Paul Benedict, Franklin Cover, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Isabel Sanford, and Berlinda Tolbert in The Jeffersons (1975)

The Jeffersons

7.5

TV Series

producer

1978–1979

24 episodes

 

In the Beginning (1978)

In the Beginning

6.1

TV Series

producer

1978

1 episode

 

Roxy Page

TV Movie

producer

1976

 

Slither

6.8

TV Movie

producer

1974

 

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969)

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

6.9

TV Series

producer

1969–1971

8 episodes

 

Insight (1960)

Insight

7.6

TV Series

producer

assistant producer

associate producer

1960–1970

22 episodes

 

Writer

Erin Gray, Ricky Schroder, and Joel Higgins in Silver Spoons (1982)

Silver Spoons

6.1

TV Series

story

1983–1984

2 episodes

 

Marla Gibbs, Paul Benedict, Franklin Cover, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Isabel Sanford, and Berlinda Tolbert in The Jeffersons (1975)

The Jeffersons

7.5

TV Series

story by

written by

1977–1979

3 episodes

 

Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart (1978)

Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart

8.3

TV Special

written by (as John Shea)

1978

 

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jack Klugman (1978)

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jack Klugman

7.9

TV Special

Writer (as John Shea)

1978