Jerry Foley (1955 – March 10, 2024) was an American television director and producer. He directed the Late Show with David Letterman from 1995 until the end of the show's run.

Jerry Foley
Born1955 (1955)
Died (aged 68)
Occupation(s)Television director and producer
Notable workLate Show with David Letterman

Foley was the executive producer and director of the Live on Letterman concert series before it ended in 2015.[1][2] He was named Supervising Producer in May 2003.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Foley had nine DGA Award nominations and 21 Emmy nominations—a record for a single person working on a variety series.[8][9]

Early career

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After graduating from the University of Southern California, Foley spent thirteen years at NBC working in a variety of functions on NBC News Overnight, NBC News at Sunrise, Today, Saturday Night Live, Tomorrow with Tom Snyder, Late Night with David Letterman, Later with Bob Costas, Friday Night Videos, NBC Nightly News, WNBC News 4 New York, Live at Five, NFL Live, NBC Game of the Week, and Another World.[1][10]

Letterman era

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Foley was the technical director of Late Night with David Letterman from 1988 to 1993. When the show ended in 1993, and David Letterman moved to CBS to host the Late Show with David Letterman, he informed his crew at Late Night about the move in advance, and told them, "To those of you who are able, we'd love to have you come along."[11] Foley was one of the crew members that moved to CBS with Letterman.

Foley succeeded Hal Gurnee as the director of the Late Show in 1995. He directed the show until its conclusion in 2015.[3][1][10]

Other work

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Foley directed over 3900 hours of late night television. He worked with film, television, and music talent in numerous single camera comedy segments. He produced and directed all 72 episodes of Live on Letterman including concerts with The Black Keys, The Killers, Adele, Phoenix, Taylor Swift, and Tim McGraw. Foley produced and directed over 40 Broadway performances for The Late Show including Wicked, Pippin, The Adams Family, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hair, Young Frankenstein, and Cinderella.[10] He was the executive producer and director of CBS News: 50 Years Later, Civil Rights and The Beatles 50 Years Later: How CBS is Remembering the Fab Four.[12][13]

Jerry Foley directed episodes of ABC's The View and Broadway segments for Good Morning America. He was the producer and director of the "America Salutes You" benefit concert.[14] In August 2016, Foley was named Artistic Director of the North Fork TV Festival.[15] Jerry Foley directed the NBC primetime special Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come.[16]

Personal life and death

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Foley was the younger brother of film director James Foley.

Jerry Foley died on March 10, 2024, at the age of 68,[17] after a skiing accident in Vermont.[18]

Primetime Emmy nominations

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  • 2013, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[19]
  • 2012, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[20]
  • 2011, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[21]
  • 2010, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[22]
  • 2009, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[23]
  • 2009, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman (Producer)[24]
  • 2008, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman (Producer)[25]
  • 2007, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman (Producer)[26]
  • 2006, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman (Producer)[27]
  • 2005, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[28]
  • 2005, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman (Producer)[28]
  • 2004, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[29]
  • 2004, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman (Producer)[29]
  • 2003, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[30]
  • 2003, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman (Producer)[31]
  • 2002, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[32]
  • 2001, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[33]
  • 2000, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[34]
  • 1996, Nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[35]
  • 1995, Nominated for Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[36]
  • 1994, Nominated for Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series for The Late Show with David Letterman[37]

DGA Award nominations

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  • 2007, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program[9]
  • 2005, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program[9]
  • 2004, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program[9]
  • 2002, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program[9]
  • 2001, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program[9]
  • 2000, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program[9]
  • 1999, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program[9]
  • 1998, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Rose, Brian Geoffrey (1999). Directing for Television: Conversations with American TV Directors. pg. 120–122. Scarecrow, Lanham, MD. ISBN 978-0810835917
  2. ^ a b Gay, Verne. "Go Relax, Dave, Jerry Foley's Back", Newsday, New York. pg. A12. 2 May 2003.
  3. ^ a b Starr, Michael. "Top Dave Guy Quits...But The Cue Card Guy Stays", New York Post, New York. pg. 087. 8 April 2003.
  4. ^ Schneider, Michael. "'Letterman' retrieves ex-staffers", Daily Variety. pg. 5. 1 May 2003.
  5. ^ Jacobson, Mitch (2010). Mastering Multicamera Techniques: From Preproduction to Editing and Deliverables, pg.79, 428. Focal/Elsevier, Amsterdam. ISBN 978-0240811765.
  6. ^ "He Missed You, Dave", New York Post, New York. pg. 084. 1 May 2003.
  7. ^ Schneider, Michael. "'Letterman' spells staff shuffle", Daily Variety. pg. 2. 7 April 2003.
  8. ^ Verini, Bob. "Road to the Emmys: Making the 'Vast Wasteland' Bloom", Variety. pg. 51. 13 August 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i "DGA Awards", Directors Guild of America, Retrieved on 21 May 2014.
  10. ^ a b c "Jerry Foley". CBS.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  11. ^ Rose, Brian Geoffrey (1999). Directing for Television: Conversations with American TV Directors. Scarecrow Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-8108-3591-7.
  12. ^ "CBS News: 50 Years Later, Civil Rights (2014)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  13. ^ "The Beatles 50 years later: How CBS is remembering the Fab Four". cbsnews.com. 7 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Tribune Media | "America Salutes You" Benefit Concert for Military, Veterans and Their Families November 12, Rosemont Theater in Chicago". Archived from the original on 2017-04-29. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  15. ^ "Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source | Newsday".
  16. ^ "NBC Special Celebrates Tony Bennett's 90th Birthday with Lady Gaga, Elton John & Others". 2016-08-02.
  17. ^ Longtime David Letterman Director Jerry Foley Dies at 68
  18. ^ Vlessing, Etan (March 12, 2024). "Jerry Foley, 'Late Show With David Letterman' Director, Dies at 68". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  19. ^ THR Staff. "Emmy Winners and Nominees 2013: The Complete List", The Hollywood Reporter. 21 September 2013.
  20. ^ McLean, Thomas J.. "Variety Series", Daily Variety. pg. 13. 22 August 2012.
  21. ^ "63rd Annual Emmy Nominations", Daily Variety. pg. 11. 15 July 2011.
  22. ^ "Juggling is essential for nominees", Daily Variety. pg. A3. 3 August 2010.
  23. ^ "Nominees happy to lose special feeling", Daily Variety. pg. Al Vol. 304 No. 31 ISSN 0011-5509. 18 August 2009.
  24. ^ "The Emmy Nominations; And the nominees are...", Los Angeles Times. pg. 16. 17 July 2009.
  25. ^ Gilbert, Matthew. "It all adds up for 'Mad Men' Sixteen nominations and a historic first for AMC drama", The Boston Globe, Boston. pg. C1. 18 July 2008.
  26. ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "Emmy folks name names", The Hollywood Reporter. 23 August 2007.
  27. ^ "List of Main Primetime Emmy Nominations", Associated Press. 23 August 2006.
  28. ^ a b "2005 Primetime Emmy Nominations", Daily Variety. pg. 10. 15 July 2005.
  29. ^ a b "Selected Emmy Noms", Daily Variety. pg. A20. 12 August 2004.
  30. ^ "Selected Emmy Noms", Daily Variety. pg. A20. 14 August 2003.
  31. ^ "Emmys; The other nominees", Los Angeles Times. pg. 34. 18 July 2003.
  32. ^ "The Emmy Nominations; Complete List of Nominees For The Record", Los Angeles Times. pg. 18. 19 July 2002.
  33. ^ "Primetime Emmy Noms", Daily Variety. pg. 28. 13 July 2001.
  34. ^ "The 52nd Emmy Nominations", Los Angeles Times. pg. 23. 21 July 2000.
  35. ^ "Emmy Award Nominations 1996; And The Emmy Nominees Are....", Los Angeles Times. pg. 22. 19 July 1996.
  36. ^ "Emmy Award Nominations 1995; Nighttime Nominees: A Complete Rundown", Los Angeles Times. pg. 26. 21 July 1995.
  37. ^ "Emmy Award Nominations 1994; Nighttime Nominees: A Complete Rundown", Los Angeles Times. pg. 26. 22 July 1994.
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