George Schaefer
Biography
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.
Acting (1 movie)
Directing (72 movies)
Eagle in a Cage
1965
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
1964
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
1983
The Bunker
1981
The Patriots
1963
The File on Devlin
1969
Johnny Belinda
1958
Stone Pillow
1985
Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry
1986
The Tempest
1960
Our Town
1977
Right of Way
1983
Doctors' Wives
1971
The Second Barry Manilow Special
1978
The Man Upstairs
1992
People vs. Jean Harris
1981
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino
1982
Amelia Earhart
1976
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
1976
Pendulum
1969
An Enemy of the People
1978
Children in the Crossfire
1984
Once Upon a Scoundrel
1973
First, You Cry
1978
Macbeth
1954
A War of Children
1972
The Girl Called Hatter Fox
1977
Answers
1985
Blithe Spirit
1966
Victoria Regina
1961
Captain Brassbound's Conversion
1960
Who'll Save Our Children?
1978
Soldier in Love
1967
The Land of Hope
1976
Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates
1958
Barefoot in Athens
1966
Harvey
1996
Gideon
1971
Macbeth
1964
Inherit the Wind
1965
The Admirable Crichton
1968
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
1967
Pygmalion
1963
Alice in Wonderland
1955
The Deadly Game
1982
Give Us Barabbas!
1961
F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Last of the Belles
1974
Saint Joan
1967
Generation
1969
In This House of Brede
1975
Winterset
1959
Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure
1979
The Lark
1957
Meet Me in St. Louis
1959
A Cry of Angels
1963
A Time For Love
1973
Arsenic & Old Lace
1962
The Yeomen of the Guard
1957
The Gift of the Magi
1958
One Touch of Venus
1955
The Invincible Mr. Disraeli
1963
Kiss Me, Kate
1958
Laura Lansing Slept Here
1988
A Doll's House
1959
The Fantasticks
1964
Little Moon of Alban
1964
The Little Foxes
1956
On Borrowed Time
1957
Little Moon of Alban
1958
The Holy Terror
1965
Elizabeth the Queen
1968
Barry Manilow: One Voice
1980