Английская Википедия:Hugh Wilson (director)

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:More footnotes Шаблон:Infobox person Hugh Hamilton Wilson Jr. (August 21, 1943 – January 14, 2018[1][2]) was an American film director, writer and television showrunner. He was the creator of the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati and Frank's Place, and was the director of the film comedies Police Academy and The First Wives Club.

Background

Wilson was born in Miami, Florida. He attended Coral Way Elementary, Ponce de Leon Jr. High, and Coral Gables Sr. High, where he was a member of the Ching Tang Fraternity. He entered the University of Florida in 1961 and graduated in 1964 with a degree in journalism. At Florida, he was a member of the Blue Key Honor Society and president of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. Wilson received the school's Distinguished Alumnus award in 1982. He has also served as a guest professor of media studies at the University of Virginia.

Career

In 1966, he entered the advertising business in Atlanta at the Burton-Campbell Agency. He was a copywriter before becoming creative director in 1970 and president in 1973. Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, producers of the Bob Newhart Show, were instrumental in getting Wilson a position with MTM Enterprises in 1975. They, along with Grant Tinker, gave him his first writing assignment for the Bob Newhart Show in early 1976 and in 1977 made him a co-producer of the Tony Randall Show. In 1978, Wilson created WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982) for CBS. Two of his WKRP scripts won Humanitas Prizes and the show was nominated twice for the Emmy in the Best Comedy category. The character of Bailey Quarters on WKRP was based on Wilson's wife.[3]

Wilson attempted to break into movies by re-writing a low-budget comedy on the condition that he could direct it. The result was the first Police Academy for the Ladd Company (Warners) and producer Paul Maslansky. It was a surprise hit of 1984. In 1985, Wilson shot the singing cowboy comedy Rustlers' Rhapsody, starring Tom Berenger and Sela Ward. The movie was filmed in Spain. "I grew up watching Roy and Gene and Hopalong Cassidy," Wilson said in the production notes. "That was my idea of a movie." The movie failed at the box office but has gained a strong cult following over the years. The same year, he created the short-lived television series Easy Street starring Loni Anderson.

In 1988, Wilson returned to CBS to create and co-produce with Tim Reid the highly regarded but short-lived (22 episodes) Frank's Place. Along with The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (created by Jay Tarses) the two shows were the first to be done in the style that has come to be known as "dramedy." Wilson received three Emmy nominations for Frank's Place and won the Emmy for Best Writing. Wilson also created the CBS show The Famous Teddy Z (1989) and directed the movies Guarding Tess (1994) and Blast from the Past (1999).

His biggest film hit after Police Academy came in 1996 with The First Wives Club. The film became a surprise box-office success following its North American release, eventually grossing $181,490,000 worldwide, mostly from its domestic run, despite receiving mixed reviews, and developed a cult following particularly among middle-aged women. For its stars, including Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton, the actresses' highest-grossing project of the decade helped revitalize their careers in film and television.

In 2003, Wilson and John Grisham teamed up to make Mickey, an independent movie about little league baseball.

Personal life

Wilson married Charters Smith in 1979, with whom he had five children. Daughter Caroline Charters Wilson is an actress and singer. Wilson moved to Virginia in 1992 and sometimes taught screenwriting at the University of Virginia. He was a Roman Catholic.

Wilson died on January 14, 2018, in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the age of 74 of lung cancer and emphysema.[4][5][6]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1972 The Bagel Report Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Also editor
1983 Stroker Ace Шаблон:Yes
1984 Police Academy Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes
1985 Rustlers' Rhapsody Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes
1987 Burglar Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes
1994 Guarding Tess Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes
1996 Down Periscope Шаблон:Yes
The First Wives Club Шаблон:Yes
1998 Southie Шаблон:Yes
1999 Blast from the Past Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes
Dudley Do-Right Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes
2004 Mickey Шаблон:Yes
2012 Keepers of the Flame Шаблон:Yes Documentary short

Acting roles

Year Title Role
1984 Police Academy Angry Driver
1985 Rustlers' Rhapsody Complaining John
1987 Burglar Customer at Mayday
1994 Guarding Tess President (voice)
1996 The First Wives Club Commercial Director
1999 Blast from the Past Levy
One More Kiss Frank's false teeth
2004 Mickey Munson

Television

Year Title Director Writer Executive
producer
Creator Notes
1976 The Bob Newhart Show Шаблон:Yes 3 episodes
1976–78 The Tony Randall Show Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Director (4 episodes), writer (6 episodes)
1978–82 WKRP in Cincinnati Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Director (2 episodes), writer (17 episodes);
Also theme song writer
1986–87 Easy Street Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Directed 3 episodes, wrote episode "The Mad Gardener"
1987–88 Frank's Place Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Director (7 episodes), writer (9 episodes)
1989–90 The Famous Teddy Z Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Director (3 episodes), writer (4 episodes)
1991 Sunday in Paris Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes TV short
1991–93 The New WKRP in Cincinnati Шаблон:Yes
1997 Rough Riders Шаблон:Yes Miniseries

TV movies

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1977 The Chopped Liver Brothers Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes
2000 The Contender Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Шаблон:Yes Unaired pilot for UPN

Acting roles

Year Title Role Notes
1978 WKRP in Cincinnati Policeman #1 Episode: "Hold Up"
1988 Frank's Place D. Wayne Thomas Episode: "Where's Ed?"

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Hugh Wilson Шаблон:EmmyAward ComedyWriting

Шаблон:Authority control