Jerry Zaks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1946-09-07)September 7, 1946 (age 79) |
| Occupation(s) | Theatre, film director |
| Spouse | Melissa Gooding |
Jerry Zaks (born September 7, 1946) is an Americanstage andtelevision director, and actor. He won theTony Award for Best Direction of a Play andDrama Desk Award for directingThe House of Blue Leaves (1986),Lend Me a Tenor (1989), andSix Degrees of Separation (1991) and theTony Award for Best Direction of a Musical and Drama Desk Award forGuys and Dolls (1992).
Zaks was born inStuttgart, Germany, the son ofHolocaust survivors Lily (Gliksman) and Sy Zaks, a butcher.[1] His family immigrated to the United States in 1948, finally settling inPaterson,New Jersey, where he graduated fromEastside High School in 1963.[2][3] He graduated fromDartmouth College and received aMaster of Fine Arts fromSmith College.[4]
He made hisBroadway acting debut in the original production ofGrease as "Kenickie" and appeared inTintypes in 1980. He made his directing debut in 1981 with theoff-Broadway production ofChristopher Durang'sBeyond Therapy, which co-starredSigourney Weaver.[5] He has directed many Broadway productions, both musicals and dramas.
He has also directed manyOff-Broadway productions, several atPlaywrights Horizons and thePublic Theater. He directed theCity CenterEncores! productions ofGirl Crazy (November 2009),[6]Stairway to Paradise (May 2007),[7] andBye Bye Birdie (May 2004).[8]
He was the director of the new musicalThe 101 Dalmatians Musical, which toured the United States from October 2009 through April 2010.[9] Zaks was named "creative consultant" for the new musicalThe Addams Family, which opened on Broadway in April 2010.[10]
He directed the Broadway production ofSister Act, which opened in Spring 2011.[11]
Zaks served as Resident Director atLincoln Center from 1986 to 1990 and is a founding member of theEnsemble Studio Theatre.[12]
As an actor, Zaks' screen credits includeOutrageous Fortune,Crimes and Misdemeanors, andHusbands and Wives. On television he has appeared inM*A*S*H andThe Edge of Night and directed episodes ofEverybody Loves Raymond,Frasier,Hope and Faith, andTwo and a Half Men, among others. He also directed the feature filmsMarvin's Room andWho Do You Love?[13]Marvin's Room won the Golden St. George at the20th Moscow International Film Festival.[14]
Zaks received theGeorge Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater in 1994 and an honoraryDoctorate of Fine Arts from Dartmouth College in 1999. He was inducted into theAmerican Theater Hall of Fame in 2013.[15]
Jerry lives with long time partner Melissa Gooding; Jerry has two children, Emma and Hannah Zaks.[1]
Director
Actor
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Outrageous Fortune | Tobacco Clerk | [17] |
| 1989 | Crimes and Misdemeanors | Man on Campus | |
| 1992 | Husbands and Wives | Dinner Party Guest | [18] |
Director[17]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | O'Henry's Christmas | Segment "The Last Leaf" |
| 2000 | The Man Who Came to Dinner | TV movie |
| 2001 | Kristin | 2 episodes |
| 2001–2004 | Everybody Loves Raymond | 21 episodes |
| 2002 | Bram and Alice | 7 episodes |
| 2002–2003 | Frasier | 4 episodes |
| 2004 | All About the Andersons | 2 episodes |
| Married to the Kellys | Episode "Double Dating" | |
| Hope and Faith | 2 episodes | |
| 2006–2007 | Two and a Half Men | 3 episodes |
Actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The New Temperatures Rising Show | Episode "The Misguided Appendectomy" | |
| M*A*S*H | Cpl. Phil Walker | Episode "L.I.P. (Local Indigenous Personnel)" | |
| 1980 | Attica | Lenny Becker | TV movie |
| 1981 | The Gentleman Bandit | Carl Schnee | |
| 1983–1984 | The Edge of Night | Louis Van Dine | 24 episodes |
| 2000 | The Beat | Episode "Can I Get a Witness?" |
Director
Actor
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Grease | Kenickie(Replacement) | Eden Theatre,Broadway | [44] |
| 1978 | Once in a Lifetime | Weisskopf | Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway | [45] |
| 1980 | Tintypes | Performer | John Golden Theatre, Broadway | [46] |
Production Supervisor
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Swing! | Production Supervisor | St. James Theatre, Broadway | [47] |
| Year | Association | Category | Project | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Play | The House of Blue Leaves | Won | [48] |
| 1988 | Best Direction of a Musical | Anything Goes | Nominated | [49] | |
| 1989 | Best Direction of a Play | Lend Me a Tenor | Won | [50] | |
| 1991 | Six Degrees of Separation | Won | [51] | ||
| 1992 | Best Direction of a Musical | Guys and Dolls | Won | [52] | |
| 1995 | Smokey Joe's Cafe | Nominated | [53] | ||
| 1996 | A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum | Nominated | [54] | ||
| 2017 | Hello, Dolly! | Nominated | [55] | ||
| 1980 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Tintypes | Nominated | |
| 1986 | Outstanding Director of a Play | The Marriage of Bette & Boo /The House of Blue Leaves | Won | ||
| 1988 | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Anything Goes | Nominated | ||
| 1989 | Outstanding Director of a Play | Lend Me a Tenor | Won | ||
| 1991 | Six Degrees of Separation | Won | |||
| 1991 | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Assassins | Nominated | ||
| 1992 | Guys and Dolls | Won | |||
| 2006 | Outstanding Director of a Play | The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial | Nominated | ||
| 2022 | Drama League Award | Best Direction of a Musical | The Music Man | Nominated | |
| 1985 | Obie Award | The Marriage of Bette and Boo /The Foreigner | Won | ||
| 1988 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Best Direction | Wenceslas Square | Won | |
| 2022 | Best Direction of a Musical | Mrs. Doubtfire | Nominated | ||
