---
name: "Eric Laneuville"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/eric-laneuville"
fi1m_id: "eric-laneuville"
imdb_id: "nm0485637"
tmdb_id: 47020
wikidata_id: "Q1351435"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "14 July 1952"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 12
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "director"
average_over: 12
updated: "2026-09-26T15:00:44.706737+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Eric Laneuville

## Identity

Eric Laneuville

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/eric-laneuville
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** eric-laneuville
- **IMDb ID:** nm0485637
- **TMDB ID:** 47020
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1351435
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Laneuville, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1351435, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0485637/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47020

Director. Born 14 July 1952 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 14 July 1952, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- **Active:** 1982–2014
- **Also known as:** Eric Gerard Laneuville, Eric G. Laneuville, Eric L'aneville
- **Frequently works with:** [Karen Gaviola](https://film.one/person/karen-gaviola.md), [Kevin Hooks](https://film.one/person/kevin-hooks.md), [Lesli Linka Glatter](https://film.one/person/lesli-linka-glatter.md), [Mark Tinker](https://film.one/person/mark-tinker.md), [Bethany Rooney](https://film.one/person/bethany-rooney.md), [Bobby Roth](https://film.one/person/bobby-roth.md), [Darnell Martin](https://film.one/person/darnell-martin.md), [Donna Deitch](https://film.one/person/donna-deitch.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as director, over 12 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 78 (1), 1990s 85 (2), 2000s 74 (7), 2010s 64 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 69 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 11, Action & Adventure 3, Crime 3, Mystery 3, Comedy 2, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 2
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Laneuville, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1351435, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0485637/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47020

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*ER*](https://film.one/tv/er.md) (88), [*Lost*](https://film.one/tv/lost.md) (81), [*Gilmore Girls*](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md) (81), [*Everybody Hates Chris*](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md) (80), [*The Mentalist*](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md) (71), [*Grey's Anatomy*](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md) (68), [*Prison Break*](https://film.one/tv/prison-break.md) (68)
- **Netflix:** [*Heroes*](https://film.one/tv/heroes.md) (68)
- **Apple TV:** [*Hawaii Five-0*](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md) (65)
- **Peacock:** [*Grimm*](https://film.one/tv/grimm.md) (63)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Eric Laneuville

> Eric Laneuville puts performers first without leaving the camera idle. We value his feel for ensembles and his preference for simple, honest playing, though the strengths of a sprawling series such as *Lost* cannot all be credited to one director.

Laneuville’s camera will look up from the floor or peer around a corner to find a character. He favours fluid movement, but his approach to performers is simple and discreet. We value that combination: the choice of angle gives us something to notice without requiring the actor to underline every feeling. In ensemble television, keeping several people interesting is useful work, particularly when the story is asking us to remember rather more than their names.

*St. Elsewhere* (1982–88) gave him experience on both sides of the camera: he played Luther Hawkins and began directing the programme in 1984. His collaborators included its executive producer Bruce Paltrow and the actor and mentor Norman Lloyd. That working background helps explain his concern for supporting performers, although having been an actor is no guarantee of knowing how to direct one. *The George McKenna Story* (1986) extended his directing into a television film, and after *St. Elsewhere* ended he shifted his focus to directing.

*Lost* (2004) is the strongest recommendation we can make here, with its ensemble giving the survival story people worth worrying about. We were frightened because those strangers mattered to us, rather than simply serving as possible answers to the mysteries. The performances carry some wayward storytelling, though the repeated postponement of explanations becomes wearing. Laneuville directed five episodes between 2005 and 2008, including ‘The Other 48 Days’; that contribution does not make him responsible for everything the programme gets right or wrong.

His broader work in medical dramas and procedurals depends on efficient pacing and an ability to give emotional scenes their due within an episode. Those are useful strengths for a serial as busy as *Lost*, but good handling of performers cannot make every narrative delay worthwhile. We would resist treating reliability as a reason to overlook that distinction, or treating a programme’s frustrations as proof that its individual directors have failed. Try *Lost* for the ensemble, provided a long wait for explanations will not spoil the evening.

## Biography

Eric Laneuville is an American television director, producer and actor. Born on 14 July 1952 in New Orleans, Louisiana, he began his career as an actor with roles in the film *The Omega Man* (1971) and the series *Room 222* (1970–1973). His best-known acting role was as Luther Hawkins in *St. Elsewhere*.

He began directing in 1984 with episodes of *St. Elsewhere*. Laneuville has directed episodes of series including *Lost* (2005–2008), *Prison Break*, *Grey's Anatomy* and *The Mentalist*. In 1992 he won a Primetime Emmy Award for directing an episode of *I'll Fly Away*. In 1988 he became the first African-American television director to film in Russia, on an episode of *Head of the Class*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (12)

- *Grimm* (2011), Fi1m 63, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/grimm.md)
- *Hawaii Five-0* (2010), Fi1m 65, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md)
- *The Mentalist* (2008), Fi1m 71, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md)
- *Heroes* (2006), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/heroes.md)
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), Fi1m 80, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Prison Break* (2005), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/prison-break.md)
- *Lost* (2004), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *ER* (1994), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *NYPD Blue* (1993), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/nypd-blue.md)
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), Fi1m 78, as Luther Hawkins — [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)

## Complete filmography (127)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Equalizer* (2021), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *FBI: Most Wanted* (2020), series, Director
- *The Code* (2019), series, Director
- *A Million Little Things* (2018), series, Director
- *FBI* (2018), series, Director
- *Station 19* (2018), series, Director
- *Black Lightning* (2018), series, Director
- *Wisdom of the Crowd* (2017), series, Director
- *Lethal Weapon* (2016), series, Director
- *DC's Legends of Tomorrow* (2016), series, Director
- *Rosewood* (2015), series, Director
- *Zoo* (2015), series, Director
- *How to Get Away with Murder* (2014), series, Director
- *Chicago P.D.* (2014), series, Director
- *Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* (2013), series, Director
- *Mistresses* (2013), series, Director
- *Chicago Fire* (2012), series, Director
- *The Client List* (2012), series, Director
- *Grimm* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/grimm.md)
- *Revenge* (2011), series, Director
- *Body of Proof* (2011), series, Director
- *Blue Bloods* (2010), series, as Marcus Greene · Director
- *Hawaii Five-0* (2010), series, Director — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md)
- *The Client List* (2010), Director
- *The Glades* (2010), series, Director
- *Trauma* (2009), series, Director
- *NCIS: Los Angeles* (2009), series, Director
- *Warehouse 13* (2009), series, Director
- *Royal Pains* (2009), series, Director
- *Lie to Me* (2009), series, Director
- *The Mentalist* (2008), series, Director — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md)
- *Raising the Bar* (2008), series, Director
- *Moonlight* (2007), series, Director
- *Heroes* (2006), series, Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/heroes.md)
- *Six Degrees* (2006), series, Director
- *Eureka* (2006), series, Director
- *Psych* (2006), series, Director
- *Ghost Whisperer* (2005), series, Director
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *Invasion* (2005), series, Director
- *Prison Break* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/prison-break.md)
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Medium* (2005), series, Director
- *Naughty or Nice* (2004), Director
- *Kevin Hill* (2004), series, Director
- *Lost* (2004), series, Director — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *L.A. Confidential* (2003), Director
- *Critical Assembly* (2003), Director
- *America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story* (2003), Director
- *The Omega Man: Introduction* (2003), Actor
- *American Dreams* (2002), series, Director
- *Monk* (2002), series, Director
- *Scrubs* (2001), series, as Dr. Lamar
- *My Wife and Kids* (2001), series, Director
- *The District* (2000), series, Director
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, Director — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *Girlfriends* (2000), series, Director
- *Bull* (2000), series, Director, Producer
- *Trapped in a Purple Haze* (2000), Director
- *Rescue 77* (1999), series, Director
- *Push* (1998), series, Director
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1997), series, Director
- *413 Hope St.* (1997), series, Producer
- *Born Into Exile* (1997), Director
- *Pandora's Clock* (1996), series, Director
- *Twisted Desire* (1996), as Det. Daniels
- *A Case for Life* (1996), Director
- *If Someone Had Known* (1995), Director
- *Under One Roof* (1995), series, Director
- *Someone She Knows* (1994), Director
- *ER* (1994), series, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *McKenna* (1994), series, Director
- *M.A.N.T.I.S.* (1994), Director
- *Staying Afloat* (1993), as Shelter Attendant · Director
- *NYPD Blue* (1993), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/nypd-blue.md)
- *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman* (1993), series, as Vendor
- *Stolen Babies* (1993), Director
- *The Ernest Green Story* (1993), Director
- *The Untouchables* (1993), series, Director
- *I'll Fly Away* (1991), series, Director
- *Reasonable Doubts* (1991), series, Director
- *Rewrite for Murder* (1991), Director
- *The Knife and Gun Club* (1990), Director
- *Bar Girls* (1990), Director
- *Dream On* (1990), series, Director
- *Equal Justice* (1990), series, Director
- *Brand New Life* (1989), series, Director
- *Doogie Howser, M.D.* (1989), series, Director
- *Quantum Leap* (1989), series, Director
- *TV 101* (1988), series, Director
- *Midnight Caller* (1988), series, Director
- *Secret Witness* (1988), Director
- *The George McKenna Story* (1988), Director
- *Beverly Hills Buntz* (1987), series, Director
- *Hooperman* (1987), series, Director
- *The Mighty Pawns* (1987), Director
- *Head of the Class* (1986), series, Director
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, Director
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Luther Hawkins · Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Back Roads* (1981), as Pinball Wizard
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, as Wilbur Harmon — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *Scared Straight! Another Story* (1980), as James
- *The Baltimore Bullet* (1980), as Purvis
- *California Fever* (1979), series, Actor
- *A Force of One* (1979), as Charlie Logan
- *Sunnyside* (1979), as Gearbox
- *Love at First Bite* (1979), as Russell
- *The White Shadow* (1978), series, as Gordy
- *A Piece of the Action* (1977), as Gerald
- *What's Happening!!* (1976), series, as Kid
- *Popi* (1976), series, as Bat Masterson
- *Foster & Laurie* (1975), as Max
- *Shoot It Black, Shoot It Blue* (1974), as Lamont
- *Run, Joe, Run* (1974), series, Actor
- *Death Wish* (1974), as Subway Station Mugger #2 (uncredited)
- *Twice in a Lifetime* (1974), as Lewis
- *Black Belt Jones* (1974), as Quincy
- *Murder and the Computer* (1973), as Mitch
- *The Rookies* (1972), series, Actor
- *Emergency!* (1972), series, as Tim Johnson
- *Sanford and Son* (1972), series, Actor
- *Nichols* (1971), series, as Stove Boy
- *The Omega Man* (1971), as Richie
- *The Partridge Family* (1970), series, as Judge
- *The Bold Ones: The New Doctors* (1969), series, as Bruce Dayton
- *Room 222* (1969), series, Actor
- *CBS Playhouse* (1966), series, as Macy Stander

## Gallery

- ![1989 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan](https://film.one/media/person/100837/gallery-102824ef1a76.jpg) 1989 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Eric_Laneuville_%282087835568%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Eric Laneuville](https://film.one/media/person/100837/gallery-639d64b8d73f.jpg) Eric Laneuville — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 1992: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (won), for *I'll Fly Away*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/eric-laneuville