Art Wolff obit

Art Wolff, Director of ‘Seinfeld’ Pilot, Dies at 82

 

He was not on the list.

Art Wolff, known for his directorial work on projects like “Seinfeld,” died of congestive heart failure on Monday at the age of 82. His daughter Juliet Wolff confirmed his death at Mount Sinai West in New York City to Variety.

The theater and television director got his start on “Search for Tomorrow,” the soap opera that ran from 1951 to 1986. But his most notable directing gig came when he worked on the pilot episode for “Seinfeld.” The 1989 episode, titled “”The Seinfeld Chronicles” or “Good News, Bad News,” earned enough favorable reviews for NBC to order the first season.

Other projects Wolff directed included episodes of “The Tracey Ullman Show,” “The Paula Poundstone Show” and “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show.”

Wolff also directed for the theater throughout his lifetime. At the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York, the director worked on Shel Silverstein plays, including a version of “The Lady or the Tiger” that starred Richard Dreyfuss. Altogether, he directed the premieres for 14 of Silverstein’s plays.

Prior to his death, Wolff took on the role of acting coach, ultimately creating the Art Wolff Acting Studio to help teach growing actors. It moved from Los Angeles to New York in 2017. He is credited as having been the dialogue coach for Dakota Fanning on 2001’s “I Am Sam.” Wolff was also an acting coach on the 2013 film “Ashley.” As an acting coach, Wolff ran an acting studio in Hollywood and worked with Fanning, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sean Penn, Matthew Perry, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Julie Hagerty, Steve Martin, Brian Benben, and many others

Wolff, an avid teacher, worked at NYU Tisch School of the Arts teaching film history, acting and directing for seven years. He also taught at Long Island University and several other locations.

He is survived by his wife Donna; children Anthony and Juliet from his first wife Virginia; and his two grandsons Max and Clark.

 

Director (27 credits)

 2010 The Fuzz (TV Movie)

 2006/II Homecoming (Short)

 1995 Grace Under Fire (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Grace and Rick and the Dance of Doom (1995)

 1992 Rhythm & Blues (TV Series) (5 episodes)

- They Shoot DJ's, Don't They? (1992)

- Mrs. Washington's Neighborhood (1992)

- The Same Old Song (1992)

- And the Banned Played On (1992)

- Pilot (1992)

 1992 Dream On (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Theory of Relativity (1992)

 1992 The Powers That Be (TV Series) (6 episodes)

- Charlerella (1992)

- Bill and Margaret's Excellent Adventure (1992)

- Kiss Me Caitlyn (1992)

- Dirty Politics (1992)

- My Mother, My Self (1992)

1992 The Paula Poundstone Show (TV Series)

 1992 Battling for Baby (TV Movie)

 1991 The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives (TV Special)

 1990 Grand (TV Series) (13 episodes)

- The End of the World as We Know It (1990)

- The Well (1990)

- Wolf Boy (1990)

- The Mother Load (1990)

- One Way Out (1990)

1990 Sydney (TV Series) (2 episodes)

- 36-24-36 (1990)

- Sydney's Mom (1990)

 1990 The Best of the Tracey Ullman Show (TV Special)

 1988-1990 It's Garry Shandling's Show. (TV Series) (5 episodes)

- Leonard Gets Metaphysical (1990)

- The Honeymoon Show (1990)

- The Day Howard Moved In (1990)

- Nathan's Sheer Madness (1989)

- My Mother, the Wife (1988)

 1989 The Nutt House (TV Series) (1 episode)

- A Night at the Reunion (1989)

 1989 Homeroom (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Pilot (1989)

 1989 Seinfeld (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Good News, Bad News (1989)

 1989 Tattinger's (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Half a Loaf (1989)

 1988-1989 Dear John (TV Series) (2 episodes)

- The Second Time Around (1989)

- Matthew's Dilemma (1988)

 1988 A Prairie Home Companion: The Second Annual Farewell Performance (TV Movie)

 1987-1988 The Tracey Ullman Show (TV Series) (11 episodes)

- Episode #2.22 (1988)

- K-AIR (1987)

- Episode #2.5 (1987)

- Episode #2.3 (1987)

- Episode #2.2 (1987)

1988 The Wonder Years (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Angel (1988)

 1987-1988 Pursuit of Happiness (TV Series) (8 episodes)

- That Pair of Eyes (1988)

- Uphill Skiing (1988)

- Together Again (1987)

- A History Lesson (1987)

- The Defiant Ones (1987)

1987 Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends (Video)

 1987 ABC Afterschool Specials (TV Series) (1 episode)

- Divorced Kids' Blues (1987)

 1964 Another World (TV Series)

 1951 Love of Life (TV Series)

 1951 Search for Tomorrow (TV Series)

 

Producer (4 credits)

 2010 The Fuzz (TV Movie) (supervising producer)

 1988 A Prairie Home Companion: The Second Annual Farewell Performance (TV Movie) (co-executive producer)

 1973 Love of Life (TV Series) (associate producer - 1 episode)

- Episode #1.5559 (1973) ... (associate producer)

 1963 Violent Midnight (assistant producer - as Arthur Wolff)