George Schaefer

Directing·Dec 16, 1920·Wallingford, Connecticut, USA

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George Louis Schaefer (December 16, 1920 – September 10, 1997) was an American director of television and Broadway theatre, who was active from the 1950s to the 1990s. Schaefer was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, and lived in Oak Park, Illinois for much of his boyhood and young adulthood. He was the son of Elsie (née Otterbein) and Louis Schaefer, who worked in sales. Schaefer studied stage directing at the Yale School of Drama. He began his directing career while serving in the U.S. Army Special Services during World War II. He directed over 50 plays for the troops. After being discharged, he directed for the Broadway theatre. His first production was of Shakespeare's Hamlet starring Maurice Evans. In 1953, Schaefer won a Tony Award for his production of The Teahouse of the August Moon which he co-produced with Evans. During the Golden Age of Television, Schaefer directed numerous live TV adaptations of Broadway plays for NBC's Hallmark Hall of Fame. His first episode for Hallmark was an adaptation of his Broadway staging of Hamlet starring Evans. In the 1980s, several of his productions for Hallmark aired in syndication under the title George Schaefer Showcase Theatre. His television work garnered him five Emmy wins out of 21 total nominations. He also won four Directors Guild of America Awards out of 17 nominations. He holds the record for the most DGA Award nominations. He also directed five theatrical films, but to limited success.

Film	Credit
Harvey1996 · Director	Director
Beverly Hills Cop III1994 · Mike	Mike
The Man Upstairs1992 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Laura Lansing Slept Here1988 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry1986 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Stone Pillow1985 · Director	Director
Answers1985 · Writer, Director	Writer, Director
Children in the Crossfire1984 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever1983 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Right of Way1983 · Director	Director
The Deadly Game1982 · Director	Director
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino1982 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
People vs. Jean Harris1981 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
The Bunker1981 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
BBarry Manilow: One Voice1980 · Director	Director
Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure1979 · Director	Director
Who'll Save Our Children?1978 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
First, You Cry1978 · Director	Director
An Enemy of the People1978 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
The Second Barry Manilow Special1978 · Director	Director
The Girl Called Hatter Fox1977 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
Our Town1977 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Amelia Earhart1976 · Director	Director
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln1976 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
TTruman at Potsdam1976 · Director	Director
TThe Land of Hope1976 · Director	Director
In This House of Brede1975 · Director	Director
Once Upon a Scoundrel1974 · Director	Director
F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Last of the Belles1974 · Director	Director
A Time For Love1973 · Director	Director
A War of Children1972 · Director	Director
Gideon1971 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Doctors' Wives1971 · Director	Director
Generation1969 · Director	Director
The File on Devlin1969 · Director	Director
Pendulum1969 · Director	Director
The Admirable Crichton1968 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
Elizabeth the Queen1968 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
Saint Joan1967 · Director	Director
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night1967 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
Soldier in Love1967 · Director	Director
Blithe Spirit1966 · Director, Producer	Director, Producer
BBarefoot in Athens1966 · Director	Director
Inherit the Wind1965 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
EEagle in a Cage1965 · Director	Director
The Holy Terror1965 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
The Fantasticks1964 · Producer, Director	Producer, Director
Little Moon of Alban1964 · Director	Director