Wissenswertes

(1997-2002) President of the Directors Guild of America (DGA).

He dropped the name of D.W. Griffith from the guild's award for lifetime achievement. Critics said Griffith's Die Geburt einer Nation (1915) glorified the Ku Klux Klan.

Jack got an unexpected phone call on the set of Silver Spoons from legendary director Orson Welles, who said he needed character-actor Peter Jason, who they were filming that day, for a magic show. Jason had just told Welles that he had to work, so Welles called the director, who he didn't know, and who told Peter they can shoot around his scenes and that "Orson needs you!".

TV comedy director.

He started out at NBC as a stage manager on the Goodyear Television Playhouse (1951). In 1952, he joined the Air Force, and was stationed in Los Angeles, where he made instructional films that included a lesson on proper tooth-brushing.

He was active in the Radio and Television Directors Guild, which he helped organize. In 1960, he helped negotiate a merger with the Screen Directors Guild.

Father of Shawn Shea.

He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Fordham University.

He and fellow director Oz Scott directed the most episodes of The Jeffersons. Jack did 110 and then Scott took over with 40 episodes.