Richard A. Colla obit

 

Richard A. Colla(1936-2021)

He was not on the list.

Richard A. Colla attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and studied acting as a member of the famed Marquette University Players. Although Colla began his career in Hollywood playing Tony Merritt on the soap opera Days of Our Lives (1965-66), he quickly transitioned from acting to directing.

Colla's first directing credit was The Soldier (1962), a short starring a young William Shatner. After directing episodes of The Legend of Jessie James, Gunsmoke, Judd for the Defense, and other TV series, he directed the feature film Zig Zag (1970). The twisty mystery starred George Kennedy as a man dying from a brain tumor who frames himself for murder so his family can claim a ransom reward. Colla earned good reviews for his unique camera angles and cinematic touches, and Paul Newman hired him to direct an adaptation of Ken Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion (1971). However, Colla's counterculture sensibilities and his pension for continuous takes and extreme long shots did not go over well with Newman and co-star Henry Fonda. Within weeks of the start of production, the young director was fired. This was understandably a huge disappointment, and Colla would go on to direct only two other exclusively theatrical films during his career: Fuzz (1972) starring Burt Reynolds, and Olly, Olly, Oxen Free (1978) with Katherine Hepburn.

Returning to television, Colla soon became known as a successful director of pilots that went to series, including McCloud (1970) and Battlestar Galactica (1978). He also directed The Questor Tapes (1974), producer Gene Roddenberry's follow-up to Star Trek. Although the pilot starring Robert Foxworth and Mike Farrell was well received, NBC decided not to buy Questor as a series in part because the similar-themed Six Million Dollar Man (1974) was already on the air. Perhaps Colla's greatest success during the 1970s was The UFO Incident (1975), starring James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons as a married couple who believe they were abducted by extraterrestrials. Based on a true story, the TV movie garnered high ratings and was credited with spurring a rash of UFO sighting reports in the mid-Seventies.

During the 1980s and 90s, Colla switched back and forth between episodic television, TV movies and four-hour miniseries. His work included episodes of Miami Vice (1984), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Spenser: For Hire (1985), and Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987); and miniseries such as the sci-fi thriller Something is Out There (1988) and the historical romance Zoya (1995), based on a novel by Danielle Steel. His final directing credit was Growing Up Brady (2000), a docudrama based on the memoir written by Barry Williams (aka, Greg Brady).

Colla once summed up his approach to directing by saying, "I like to keep my options open until the last possible second."

A life-long environmentalist, Colla owned the 600-acre Matilija Canyon Wildlife Refuge near Ojai, and he supported the California Forest Improvement Project (CFIP). To encourage others to join CFIP's efforts to preserve private forest lands, Colla directed and executive produced the educational video Reforestation (1987), narrated by his old friend William Shatner. Colla also appeared in the video as himself.

Colla was married to actress Denise Alexander. He died on December 24, 2021, in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 85.

Colla previously directed the unsold pilot for Gene Roddenberry's The Questor Tapes, which was written by Roddenberry and Gene L. Coon (earning them a 1975 Hugo Award nomination in the category Best Dramatic Presentation) and starred Robert Foxworth, Majel Barrett, and Walter Koenig. He went on to direct Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star Avery Brooks in five episodes of Spenser: For Hire and Brooks' Deep Space Nine co-star, Nana Visitor, in a 1985 episode of MacGyver. He also directed Diana Muldaur, Julie Newmar, and Gregory Sierra in a 1970 episode of McCloud. Other television series he directed include Gunsmoke, Ironside, CHiPs (again working with Julie Newmar), Murder, She Wrote (an episode with Samantha Eggar), and Hardcastle and McCormick (starring Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly in the title roles).

Colla directed Star Trek: The Original Series guest actors Steve Ihnat and Stewart Moss in Zig Zag (1970) and Fuzz (1972). The former movie also featured William Marshall and Vic Perrin, while the latter featured Peter Brocco, Vince Howard, and Bert Remsen. Colla had previously directed Steve Ihnat in the 1969 TV movie The Whole World Is Watching (co-starring Kermit Murdock) and went on to direct Stewart Moss in the pilot for Sarge (1971, starring Ricardo Montalban), the unsold TV pilot The Tribe (1974, also featuring Meg Wyllie), and the ABC Movie of the Week Live Again, Die Again (1974, co-starring Walker Edmiston).

While Colla has always remained predominently a director for television, he inadvertently added an additional theatrical feature credit to the two he already had. He directed the two 1978 pilot episodes of Battlestar Galactica (featuring John Colicos, Ed Begley, Jr., Reggie Nalder, Geoffrey Binney, Paula Crist, Dick Durock, Sandra Gimpel, and Felix Silla), which were re-edited into a theatrical feature, premiering in the spring before the series actually started its television run in mid-September, thereby becoming the de facto start of the Battlestar Galactica franchise.

Among Colla's many other TV movie credits are 1971's The Priest Killer (co-starring Peter Brocco, David Huddleston, Kermit Murdock, and Anthony Zerbe), The UFO Incident (1975, with David Huddleston), 1986's That Secret Sunday (starring Daphne Ashbrook and William Lucking), 1989's Naked Lie (also with Lucking, as well as Dakin Matthews) and Blind Witness (starring Stephen Macht), 1990's Sparks: The Price of Passion (starring William Lucking), Desperate Rescue: The Cathy Mahone Story (1993, starring Clancy Brown and Jeff Kober), Web of Deception (1994, starring Rosalind Chao), and 1995's Zoya (featuring David Warner) and Dazzle (featuring Natalia Nogulich). His most recent project was the TV movie Growing Up Brady, starring Daniel Hugh Kelly (Star Trek: Insurrection).

Director

Barry Williams in Growing Up Brady (2000)

Growing Up Brady

6.0

TV Movie

Director

2000

 

Blue Valley Songbird (1999)

Blue Valley Songbird

5.9

TV Movie

Director

1999

 

Yasmine Bleeth and Richard Grieco in Ultimate Deception (1999)

Ultimate Deception

5.2

TV Movie

Director

1999

 

When Husbands Cheat (1998)

When Husbands Cheat

5.5

TV Movie

Director (directed by)

1998

 

Love's Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murder (1997)

Love's Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murder

6.3

TV Movie

Director

1997

 

Her Last Chance (1996)

Her Last Chance

6.8

TV Movie

Director (directed by)

1996

 

Hidden in Silence (1996)

Hidden in Silence

7.2

TV Movie

Director

1996

 

Linda Evans, Lisa Hartman, James Farentino, Bruce Greenwood, and Cliff Robertson in Dazzle (1995)

Dazzle

5.9

TV Movie

Director

1995

 

Zoya (1995)

Zoya

6.5

TV Movie

Director (as Richard Colla)

1995

 

Patrika Darbo and Stephen Lee in Roseanne & Tom: Behind the Scenes (1994)

Roseanne & Tom: Behind the Scenes

6.0

TV Movie

Director

1994

 

Powers Boothe and Pam Dawber in Web of Deception (1994)

Web of Deception

5.6

TV Movie

Director

1994

 

Desperate Rescue: The Cathy Mahone Story (1993)

Desperate Rescue: The Cathy Mahone Story

5.6

TV Movie

Director (as Richard Colla)

1993

 

Deadly Medicine (1991)

Deadly Medicine

5.9

TV Movie

Director

1991

 

Lori Singer and Marcia Cross in Storm and Sorrow (1990)

Storm and Sorrow

5.5

TV Movie

Director (as Richard Colla)

1990

 

Victoria Principal and Ted Wass in Sparks: The Price of Passion (1990)

Sparks: The Price of Passion

4.4

TV Movie

Director (as Richard Colla)

1990

 

Victoria Principal in Blind Witness (1989)

Blind Witness

5.2

TV Movie

Director (as Richard Colla, directed by)

1989

 

Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzer (1989)

Roxanne: The Prize Pulitzer

4.9

TV Movie

Director (as Richard Colla)

1989

 

Something Is Out There (1988)

Something Is Out There

6.6

TV Series

Director

1988–1989

3 episodes

 

Victoria Principal and James Farentino in Naked Lie (1989)

Naked Lie

5.5

TV Movie

Director

1989

 

Chuck Connors, Lance LeGault, and John J. York in Werewolf (1987)

Werewolf

7.8

TV Series

Director

1988

3 episodes

 

Something Is Out There (1988)

Something Is Out There

6.5

TV Mini Series

Director

1988

2 episodes

 

Reforestation (1987)

Reforestation

Video

Director

1987

 

Avery Brooks and Robert Urich in Spenser: For Hire (1985)

Spenser: For Hire

7.3

TV Series

Director (as Richard Colla)

1985–1987

5 episodes

 

Michael Paré and Michael Beck in Houston Knights (1987)

Houston Knights

7.3

TV Series

Director

1987

1 episode

 

Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

8.7

TV Series

Director (as Richard Colla)

1987

1 episode

 

That Secret Sunday (1986)

That Secret Sunday

5.8

TV Movie

Director

1986

 

Brian Benben, Patricia Kalember, Priscilla Lopez, Jan Rubes, Lane Smith, and Keone Young in Kay O'Brien (1986)

Kay O'Brien

7.3

TV Series

Director

1986

1 episode

 

Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985)

MacGyver

7.6

TV Series

Director (as Richard Colla)

1985

1 episode

 

Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer in Hunter (1984)

Hunter

6.9

TV Series

Director

1985

3 episodes

 

Edward Woodward in The Equalizer (1985)

The Equalizer

7.8

TV Series

Director (as Richard Colla, directed by)

1985

1 episode

 

Stingray (1985)

Stingray

7.5

TV Movie

Director (as Richard Colla)

1985

 

Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly in Hardcastle and McCormick (1983)

Hardcastle and McCormick

6.6

TV Series

Director

1985

1 episode

 

Jon-Erik Hexum and Jennifer O'Neill in Cover Up (1984)

Cover Up

7.7

TV Series

Director (directed by)

1984

2 episodes

 

Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

Murder, She Wrote

7.2

TV Series

Director

1984

1 episode

 

Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in Miami Vice (1984)

Miami Vice

7.6

TV Series

Director (as Richard Colla, directed by)

1984

1 episode

 

Wizards and Warriors (1983)

Wizards and Warriors

7.4

TV Series

Director (as Richard Colla)

1983

1 episode

 

Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox in CHiPs (1977)

CHiPs

6.5

TV Series

Director

1982

1 episode

 

Shannon (1981)

Shannon

6.3

TV Series

Director

1981–1982

2 episodes

 

Pernell Roberts in Trapper John, M.D. (1979)

Trapper John, M.D.

6.6

TV Series

Director

1981

1 episode

 

Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige (1981)

Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

6.8

TV Movie

Director

1981

 

Jake's Way

8.5

TV Movie

Director (as Richard Colla)

1980

 

Noah Hathaway, Lorne Greene, Dirk Benedict, Richard Hatch, Maren Jensen, and Laurette Spang in Battlestar Galactica (1978)

Battlestar Galactica

7.2

TV Series

Director

1978

1 episode

 

Battlestar Galactica (1978)

Battlestar Galactica

6.8

Director

1978

 

Olly, Olly, Oxen Free (1978)

Olly, Olly, Oxen Free

5.2

Director

1978

 

The UFO Incident (1975)

The UFO Incident

6.5

TV Movie

Director

1975

 

The Tribe (1974)

The Tribe

6.0

TV Movie

Director

1974

 

Live Again, Die Again (1974)

Live Again, Die Again

5.3

TV Movie

Director

1974

 

Mike Farrell and Robert Foxworth in The Questor Tapes (1974)

The Questor Tapes

6.8

TV Movie

Director

1974

 

Tenafly (1973)

Tenafly

7.2

TV Series

Director

1973

1 episode

 

Fuzz (1972)

Fuzz

5.5

Director

1972

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

Director

1968–1971

4 episodes

 

George Kennedy in Sarge (1971)

Sarge

7.0

TV Series

Director

1971

1 episode

 

Joan Hackett and Roy Thinnes in The Other Man (1970)

The Other Man

6.8

TV Movie

Director

1970

 

Zig Zag (1970)

Zig Zag

6.1

Director

1970

 

Dennis Weaver in McCloud (1970)

McCloud

6.9

TV Series

Director

1970

1 episode

 

The Whole World Is Watching (1969)

The Whole World Is Watching

7.7

TV Movie

Director

1969

 

The Name of the Game (1968)

The Name of the Game

7.6

TV Series

Director

1968

1 episode

 

James Drury, Doug McClure, and John McIntire in The Virginian (1962)

The Virginian

7.6

TV Series

Director

1968

1 episode

 

Carl Betz and Stephen Young in Judd for the Defense (1967)

Judd for the Defense

7.6

TV Series

Director

1968

2 episodes

 

James Arness, Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone, and Dennis Weaver in Gunsmoke (1955)

Gunsmoke

8.1

TV Series

Director

1966

1 episode

 

The Legend of Jesse James (1965)

The Legend of Jesse James

7.0

TV Series

Director

1966

1 episode

 

By the Wayside

Short

Director (as Dick Colla)

1962

 

The Soldier (1962)

The Soldier

5.9

Short

Director (as Dick Colla)

1962

 

Writer

Olly, Olly, Oxen Free (1978)

Olly, Olly, Oxen Free

5.2

story

1978

 

The Legend of Jesse James (1965)

The Legend of Jesse James

7.0

TV Series

written by

1966

1 episode

 

Actor

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.3

TV Series

Tony Merritt

1965–1966

84 episodes

 

Like Father, Like Son (1961)

Like Father, Like Son

6.1

Ginny's Date (uncredited)

1961

 

Producer

Getting Up and Going Home (1992)

Getting Up and Going Home

6.3

TV Movie

co-executive producer (as Richard Colla)

1992

 

Lori Singer and Marcia Cross in Storm and Sorrow (1990)

Storm and Sorrow

5.5

TV Movie

producer (as Richard Colla)

1990

 

Victoria Principal and Ted Wass in Sparks: The Price of Passion (1990)

Sparks: The Price of Passion

4.4

TV Movie

producer (as Richard Colla)

1990

 

Victoria Principal in Blind Witness (1989)

Blind Witness

5.2

TV Movie

producer (as Richard Colla, produced by)

1989

 

The Shaft of Love (1983)

The Shaft of Love

7.4

TV Movie

executive producer

1983

 

Olly, Olly, Oxen Free (1978)

Olly, Olly, Oxen Free

5.2

producer

1978

 

The UFO Incident (1975)

The UFO Incident

6.5

TV Movie

executive producer

1975

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

executive producer

1971

1 episode

 

George Kennedy in Sarge (1971)

Sarge

7.0

TV Series

executive producer

1971

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

The Shaft of Love (1983)

The Shaft of Love

7.4

TV Movie

directed for stage

1983

 

Self

Working with the Daggit of 'Battlestar Galactica'

9.0

Video

Self

2004

 

The Cylons of 'Battlestar Galactica'

9.0

Video

Self

2004

 

Remembering 'Battlestar Galactica'

8.9

Video

Self

2004

 

Reforestation (1987)

Reforestation

Video

Self

1987