Producer and director of ‘Seinfeld’ was 86
Tom Cherones, the director and producer best known for his work on 81 of the first 86 episodes of “Seinfeld” during the show’s first five years, has died. He was 86.
Cherones died Jan. 5 at his home in Florence, Oregon, of Alzheimer’s disease, a family spokesperson announced.
Cherones’ first directorial stint on “Seinfeld” was the sitcom’s second episode, “The Stakeout,” which aired in May 1990. He was known for wearing Hawaiian shirts on set and contributed to the show’s visual language by shooting with multiple cameras in a way that gave it a more cinematic look than the standard sitcom aesthetic. He went on to direct many of the show’s more experimental episodes, including “The Chinese Restaurant,” “The Parking Garage,” and “The Contest.”
Cherones appeared on camera once during his run on “Seinfeld,” playing “the director” in the fourth-season episode “The Pilot,” in which he says he was “going to rip that little guy.” [Jason Alexander’s George Costanza] a new one.”
Cherones received six Emmy nominations for “Seinfeld” and shared the coveted award for outstanding comedy series in 1993 with creators Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, among others. He also won a DGA Award and Golden Globe for the sitcom.
Born on September 11, 1939 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Cherones graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1961 with a degree in journalism. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy until 1965, he earned a master’s degree in television and film communications from the University of Alabama in 1967.
Cherones produced and directed several programs and series episodes at various PBS affiliates before joining station WQED in Pittsburgh, where he worked on productions including “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
He moved to Los Angeles in 1975 and worked as a production manager for “General Hospital” and “Welcome Back, Kotter.” He later became an independent producer, working with Warner Bros., ABC, CBS, Paramount, Lorimar and Mary Tyler Moore Productions. In 1980, he wrote and produced the feature film “Two of Hearts” for cable and public television. His credits also include “Caroline in the City,” “NewsRadio,” “Ellen,” “Boston Common,” “Growing Pains,” “Ladies Man,” “The Pitts” and “Desperate Housewives.”
Cherones eventually returned to the University of Alabama, where he taught television production pro bono for twelve years.
Cherones was married to Bobby Cherones, with whom he had two children, and later to Joyce Keener until her death in 2006. He is survived by his wife, Carol E. Richards; his daughter, Susan Cherones Lee and her husband Daniel; son, Scott Cherones and his wife, Linda; and grandchildren Jessa and Thomas Cherones, as well as several brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
