Jim Drake obit

James Drake Obituary

 

He was not on the list.

Jim Drake, TV/Movie Director, passed away on January 10, 2022 in Freeland, WA.

The measure of a person, as is often said, is how much they are loved by others. After only a few minutes in the presence of this accomplished, knowledgeable, and ever inquisitive soul, nearly everyone who crossed his path was led to an enduring love and respect for James Richard Drake.

After earning a degree in Communication at Stanford University, he moved on to New York City to earn his Masters Degree from Columbia University. Soon Jim became a staff Associate Director at CBS. He later moved to Los Angeles where he would soon join the emerging staff at Norman Lear's Production. His choice of career also introduced him to his soulmate, Brigit Jensen Drake, with whom he first worked on the legendary series, All In The Family. Jim's credits spanned hundreds of television shows as well as TV and theatrical movies. Among the many titles: Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; Fernwood Tonight; SCTV, Who's The Boss; Buffalo Bill (nominated for a DGA award as well as an Emmy award); Newhart; The Golden Girls (earning another Emmy nomination); Night Court; Dave's World; The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Police Academy IV.

In addition to his wife Brigit, he is survived by his daughter Christina, son Kevin and his daughter River, stepdaughter Christel Layton and husband Bob and their daughter Katrina, his brother Tom, and also by his first wife Kirsten.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Film Foundation (DGA) or Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle.

 

Director

The 64th Annual Directors Guild Awards

TV Special

Director

2012

 

Brenda Song, Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse, and Debby Ryan in The Suite Life on Deck (2008)

The Suite Life on Deck

6.4

TV Series

Director

2008

2 episodes

 

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005)

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody

6.6

TV Series

Director

2005–2008

7 episodes

 

Maria Pitillo, David Newsom, and Bradley White in House Rules (1998)

House Rules

6.5

TV Series

Director

1998

1 episode

 

Christopher Daniel Barnes, Eddie Griffin, Ron Pearson, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Karen Malina White in Malcolm & Eddie (1996)

Malcolm & Eddie

6.6

TV Series

Director

1998

1 episode

 

Jeremiah Birkett, Matt Borlenghi, Heather Campbell, Rod Crawford, Joe Flaherty, Christine Gonzales, Tony Longo, P.J. Ochlan, Toby Proctor, and Michael Winslow in Police Academy: The Series (1997)

Police Academy: The Series

4.9

TV Series

Director

1997

2 episodes

 

Jamie Foxx in The Jamie Foxx Show (1996)

The Jamie Foxx Show

6.8

TV Series

Director

1997

1 episode

 

Holly Robinson Peete, Mark Curry, Sandra Quarterman, Raven-Symoné, and Marquise Wilson in Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992)

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

6.4

TV Series

Director

1997

4 episodes

 

Harry Anderson in Dave's World (1993)

Dave's World

6.6

TV Series

Director

1995–1997

24 episodes

 

Harry Anderson: The Tricks of His Trade

7.4

TV Special

Director

1996

 

The Best of John Candy on SCTV (1996)

The Best of John Candy on SCTV

8.0

TV Movie

segment director

1996

 

The Crew (1995)

The Crew

7.4

TV Series

Director

1995–1996

2 episodes

 

Timothy Stack in Night Stand (1995)

Night Stand

8.7

TV Series

Director

1995

3 episodes

 

Dabney Coleman in Madman of the People (1994)

Madman of the People

6.4

TV Series

Director

1994–1995

4 episodes

 

Star Struck (1994)

Star Struck

5.4

TV Movie

Director

1994

 

Queen Latifah, Erika Alexander, Kim Fields, Terrence 'T.C.' Carson, Kim Coles, and John Henton in Living Single (1993)

Living Single

7.7

TV Series

Director

1993–1994

2 episodes

 

Sinbad in The Sinbad Show (1993)

The Sinbad Show

6.2

TV Series

Director

1993

1 episode

 

Morgan Fairchild in Based on an Untrue Story (1993)

Based on an Untrue Story

5.3

TV Movie

Director

1993

 

Scorch (1992)

Scorch

7.1

TV Series

Director

1992

1 episode

 

Harry Anderson, Selma Diamond, Ellen Foley, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, and Charles Robinson in Night Court (1984)

Night Court

7.7

TV Series

Director

1984–1992

63 episodes

 

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

The Fanelli Boys

7.3

TV Series

Director

1990

2 episodes

 

My Talk Show (1990)

My Talk Show

7.8

TV Series

Director

1990

1 episode

 

Susan Blakely in Dad's a Dog (1990)

Dad's a Dog

7.7

TV Movie

Director

1990

 

Shelley Fabares, Craig T. Nelson, Bill Fagerbakke, Kenneth Kimmins, and Jerry Van Dyke in Coach (1989)

Coach

7.0

TV Series

Director

1990

1 episode

 

Speed Zone (1989)

Speed Zone

4.5

Director

1989

 

Poison

TV Movie

Director

1988

 

Mars: Base One

TV Movie

Director

1988

 

The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley (1988)

The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley

7.5

TV Series

Director (segment The Count Floyd Show)

1988

13 episodes

 

Goddess of Love (1988)

Goddess of Love

3.2

TV Movie

Director

1988

 

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

Boys Will Be Boys

7.1

TV Series

Director

1987–1988

9 episodes

 

Poison

TV Series

Director

1988

 

Sharon Stone in Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol. Deleted Scene: Harris' Surprise (1987)

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol. Deleted Scene: Harris' Surprise

Video

Director

1987

 

Sharon Stone in Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol. Deleted Scene: Mahoney Takes Claire Home (1987)

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol. Deleted Scene: Mahoney Takes Claire Home

6.8

Video

Director

1987

 

Roomies (1987)

Roomies

7.0

TV Series

Director (directed by)

1987

5 episodes

 

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

5.0

Director

1987

 

Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures (1986)

Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures

5.5

Short

Director

1986

 

The Alan King Show

3.6

TV Movie

Director

1986

 

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

Valerie

6.6

TV Series

Director

1986

1 episode

 

Alyssa Milano, Tony Danza, Katherine Helmond, Danny Pintauro, and Judith Light in Who's the Boss? (1984)

Who's the Boss?

6.6

TV Series

Director

1984–1986

5 episodes

 

Bess Armstrong, Carol Kane, Terence Knox, and Shawnee Smith in All Is Forgiven (1986)

All Is Forgiven

7.9

TV Series

Director

1986

1 episode

 

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

The Golden Girls

8.2

TV Series

Director

1985

8 episodes

 

Anything for Love

5.2

TV Movie

Director

1985

 

Pam Dawber and Laraine Newman in This Wife for Hire (1985)

This Wife for Hire

4.7

TV Movie

Director

1985

 

It's Your Move (1984)

It's Your Move

8.2

TV Series

Director

1984–1985

4 episodes

 

Mary Frann, Jennifer Holmes, Steven Kampmann, Bob Newhart, and Tom Poston in Newhart (1982)

Newhart

7.8

TV Series

Director

1984

5 episodes

 

Jean Sagal and Liz Sagal in Double Trouble (1984)

Double Trouble

7.2

TV Series

Director

1984

5 episodes

 

Domestic Life (1984)

Domestic Life

7.2

TV Series

Director

1984

5 episodes

 

The Duck Factory (1984)

The Duck Factory

6.4

TV Series

Director

1984

1 episode

 

We Got It Made (1983)

We Got It Made

5.6

TV Series

Director

1984

6 episodes

 

Buffalo Bill (1983)

Buffalo Bill

7.3

TV Series

Director

1983–1984

9 episodes

 

SCTV Channel (1983)

SCTV Channel

8.3

TV Series

Director

1983–1984

 

Baby Makes Five (1983)

Baby Makes Five

5.0

TV Series

Director

1983

2 episodes

 

Nell Carter in Gimme a Break! (1981)

Gimme a Break!

6.4

TV Series

Director

1982–1983

14 episodes

 

Romance Theatre (1982)

Romance Theatre

5.9

TV Series

Director

1982

10 episodes

 

SCTV Network (1981)

SCTV Network

8.4

TV Series

Director

1982

9 episodes

 

Redd Foxx in Sanford (1980)

Sanford

6.7

TV Series

Director

1980–1981

26 episodes

 

Joe's World (1979)

Joe's World

5.8

TV Series

Director

1980

1 episode

 

The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts (1980)

The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts

6.6

TV Series

Director

1980

31 episodes

 

Nancy McKeon, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Charlotte Rae, and Lisa Whelchel in The Facts of Life (1979)

The Facts of Life

6.8

TV Series

Director

1979

3 episodes

 

Completely Off the Wall

TV Movie

Director

1979

 

Featherstone's Nest (1979)

Featherstone's Nest

TV Movie

Director

1979

 

Forever Fernwood (1977)

Forever Fernwood

7.4

TV Series

Director

1977

1 episode

 

Martin Mull and Fred Willard in Fernwood Tonight (1977)

Fernwood Tonight

8.6

TV Series

Director

1977

8 episodes

 

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

7.9

TV Series

Director

1976–1977

157 episodes

 

Polly Holliday, Beth Howland, and Linda Lavin in Alice (1976)

Alice

6.8

TV Series

Director

1976

2 episodes

 

Three to Get Ready

TV Movie

Director

1975

 

Where the Heart Is (1969)

Where the Heart Is

7.9

TV Series

Director

1973

1 episode

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

Polly Holliday, Beth Howland, and Linda Lavin in Alice (1976)

Alice

6.8

TV Series

associate director

1976

1 episode

 

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

7.9

TV Series

associate director

1976

17 episodes

 

Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)

All in the Family

8.4

TV Series

associate director

1975–1976

13 episodes

 

John Amos, Ralph Carter, Ja'net DuBois, Esther Rolle, BernNadette Stanis, and Jimmie 'JJ' Walker in Good Times (1974)

Good Times

7.4

TV Series

associate director

1974–1975

11 episodes

 

Natalie Wood and Jacques Sernas in Camera Three (1955)

Camera Three

7.7

TV Series

associate director

1971–1974

15 episodes

 

Cinematographer

A Tribute to a Movie Location: Lone Ranger Canyon (2016)

A Tribute to a Movie Location: Lone Ranger Canyon

Video

Cinematographer (Video footage)

2016