---
name: "Jack Bender"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jack-bender"
fi1m_id: "jack-bender"
imdb_id: "nm0070474"
tmdb_id: 28976
wikidata_id: "Q362793"
roles: ["Director","Producer"]
born: "25 September 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "director"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-07T12:39:29.037426+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."
---

# Jack Bender

## Identity

Jack Bender

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jack-bender
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jack-bender
- **IMDb ID:** nm0070474
- **TMDB ID:** 28976
- **Wikidata ID:** Q362793
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Bender, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q362793, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0070474/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/28976

Director and producer. Born 25 September 1949 in USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Producer
- **Born:** 25 September 1949, USA
- **Active:** 1990–present
- **Also known as:** جک بندر
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 10 directing, 1 producing
- **Frequently works with:** [Dan Attias](https://film.one/person/dan-attias.md), [Alan Taylor](https://film.one/person/alan-taylor.md), [Barnet Kellman](https://film.one/person/barnet-kellman.md), [Bill D'Elia](https://film.one/person/bill-delia.md), [Bobby Roth](https://film.one/person/bobby-roth.md), [Brad Turner](https://film.one/person/brad-turner.md), [Jeff Pinkner](https://film.one/person/jeff-pinkner.md), [J.J. Abrams](https://film.one/person/j-j-abrams.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as director, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 78 (4), 2000s 77 (3), 2010s 74 (2), 2020s 66 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 72 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 10, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 5, Action & Adventure 4, Mystery 3, Comedy 2, Crime 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Bender, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q362793, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0070474/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/28976

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Sopranos*](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md) (94), [*Game of Thrones*](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md) (82), [*Carnivàle*](https://film.one/tv/carnivale.md) (76)
- **Disney+:** [*Lost*](https://film.one/tv/lost.md) (81), [*Alias*](https://film.one/tv/alias.md) (74), [*Ally McBeal*](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md) (63)
- **Paramount+:** [*Beverly Hills, 90210*](https://film.one/tv/beverly-hills-90210.md) (74)
- **Netflix:** [*The Last Ship*](https://film.one/tv/the-last-ship.md) (67)
- **Apple TV:** [*FROM*](https://film.one/tv/from.md) (65)

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

## Fi1m on Jack Bender

> Jack Bender is good at keeping complicated television understandable without losing the people caught in it. We value his sustained work within a series, while being careful not to credit its director with everything the writers and actors achieve.

When a television story doubles back in time, Jack Bender is good at keeping the action and the people caught in it clear. We want to follow the plot without losing track of what it costs the characters. His handling of sequences that combine action, emotion and elaborate mythology gives us reason to trust him with that task. We rate him as a skilled television director, though his name alone is not a guarantee of a good programme.

*The Sopranos* (1999) makes that question of credit especially important. Bender directed four episodes of David Chase's series, including instalments in its third and fourth seasons; he contributed to a programme we recommend without hesitation, but cannot claim all its virtues. We were frightened by James Gandolfini's Tony because his grievances felt so painfully recognisable. Gandolfini makes him funny too, which keeps the performance from settling into a comfortable portrait of someone safely unlike us. Our reservation is that the series sometimes spends longer on Tony's complaints than those complaints warrant, and admiration for the people making it should not excuse that.

The clearer measure of Bender's responsibilities is *Lost* (2004–2010), where he was lead director and executive producer, directing 38 episodes. After the horror sequel *Child's Play 3* (1991) and television work through the 1990s, this was the substantial turn in his career. Working with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse meant helping to sustain a long-running programme. That continuing involvement matters to our view of him: the job extends beyond making one difficult sequence work to helping a series hold together over time.

His two 2016 episodes of *Game of Thrones*, *The Door* and *Blood of My Blood*, brought further intricate storytelling, with *The Door* combining action and emotional stakes. On *From* (2022), he again took a substantial role, directing the pilot and serving as executive producer. These are good reasons to take his contribution seriously, without making him answer for every strength or weakness of each programme. For a longer look at his direction, choose *Lost*: 38 episodes give us rather more to go on than four.

## Biography

Jack Bender is an American television and film director, producer and actor. Born in Los Angeles on 25 September 1949, he began his career as an actor in the early 1970s with guest roles on series including *All in the Family*, *The Bob Newhart Show* and *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*.

Bender moved into directing in the late 1970s. He directed episodes of many television series and the feature film *Child's Play 3* (1991). He directed several episodes of *The Sopranos* (1999) and served as executive producer and lead director on *Lost* (2004), directing 38 episodes including the series finale. His other credits include episodes of *Game of Thrones*, *From* (2022), *Under the Dome* (2013), *The Last Ship* (2014) and *Carnivàle* (2003).

Bender received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for three *Lost* episodes.

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

## On Fi1m (11)

### Directed (10) — the average rests on these

- *FROM* (2022), Fi1m 65, Director, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/from.md)
- *The Last Ship* (2014), Fi1m 67, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-last-ship.md)
- *Game of Thrones* (2011), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md)
- *Lost* (2004), Fi1m 81, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *Carnivàle* (2003), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/carnivale.md)
- *Alias* (2001), Fi1m 74, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/alias.md)
- *The Sopranos* (1999), Fi1m 94, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md)
- *Ally McBeal* (1997), Fi1m 63, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md)
- *Beverly Hills, 90210* (1990), Fi1m 74, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/beverly-hills-90210.md)
- *Northern Exposure* (1990), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/northern-exposure.md)

### Produced (1)

- *The Outsider* (2020), Fi1m 68, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-outsider.md)

## Complete filmography (80)

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

- *The Institute* (2025), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *FROM* (2022), series, Director, Executive Producer — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/from.md)
- *The Outsider* (2020), series, Executive Producer — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-outsider.md)
- *Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen* (2018), Director
- *Mr. Mercedes* (2017), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Falling Water* (2016), series, Director
- *The Last Ship* (2014), series, Director — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-last-ship.md)
- *Rewind* (2013), Director
- *Under the Dome* (2013), series, Director
- *My Little Friend* (2012), Music
- *Alcatraz* (2012), series, Director, Producer
- *Alphas* (2011), series, Producer, Director
- *Game of Thrones* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md)
- *Weekends at Bellevue* (2011), Director
- *The New Man in Charge* (2010), Executive Producer
- *The Prince of Motor City* (2008), Director
- *I Kicked Luis Guzman in the Face* (2008), Executive Producer
- *Lost* (2004), series, Director, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *Joan of Arcadia* (2003), series, Director
- *Carnivàle* (2003), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/carnivale.md)
- *The Lone Ranger* (2003), Director
- *Presidio Med* (2002), series, Director
- *Alias* (2001), series, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/alias.md)
- *Boston Public* (2000), series, Director
- *That's Life* (2000), series, Director
- *The David Cassidy Story* (2000), Director
- *My Little Assassin* (1999), Director
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, Director
- *It Came from the Sky* (1999), Writer, Director
- *The Sopranos* (1999), series, Director — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md)
- *The Tempest* (1998), Director, Executive Producer
- *Felicity* (1998), series, Director
- *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, Director — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md)
- *A Call to Remember* (1997), Director, Executive Producer
- *Killing Mr. Griffin* (1997), Director
- *Friends 'Til the End* (1997), Director
- *Sweet Dreams* (1996), Director
- *A Face to Die For* (1996), Director
- *Nothing Lasts Forever* (1995), series, Director
- *Nothing Lasts Forever* (1995), Director
- *New York News* (1995), series, Director
- *Lone Justice 2* (1995), Director
- *Family Album* (1994), series, Director
- *The Gambler: Playing for Keeps* (1994), Director
- *Armed and Innocent* (1994), Director
- *Ned Blessing* (1993), series, Director
- *Love Can Be Murder* (1992), Director
- *I'll Fly Away* (1991), series, Director
- *Child's Play 3* (1991), Director
- *The Perfect Tribute* (1991), Director
- *The Dreamer of Oz* (1990), Director
- *Beverly Hills, 90210* (1990), series, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/beverly-hills-90210.md)
- *Northern Exposure* (1990), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/northern-exposure.md)
- *My Brother's Wife* (1989), Director
- *Tricks of the Trade* (1988), Director
- *Side by Side* (1988), Director
- *A Year in the Life* (1987), series, Director
- *The Midnight Hour* (1985), Director
- *Letting Go* (1985), Director
- *Deadly Messages* (1985), Director
- *Shattered Vows* (1984), Director
- *High School U.S.A.* (1984), Director
- *Two Kinds of Love* (1983), Director
- *In Love with an Older Woman* (1982), Director
- *King's Crossing* (1982), series, Director
- *Falcon Crest* (1981), series, Director
- *John Ritter: Being of Sound Mind and Body* (1980), Writer
- *The Paper Chase* (1978), series, Director
- *Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force* (1978), as Allcott
- *Hot Lead & Cold Feet* (1978), as Farmer 3
- *Target Risk* (1975), as Joe Cordova
- *Savage!* (1973), as Jerry
- *Here We Go Again* (1973), series, as Bill
- *The Bob Newhart Show* (1972), series, as Paul Sanders
- *Now You See Him, Now You Don't* (1972), as Slither Roth
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Wolpert — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *The Million Dollar Duck* (1971), as Arvin Wadlow
- *The Barefoot Executive* (1971), as Tom
- *All in the Family* (1971), series, as Paul Goodrow — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/all-in-the-family.md)
- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), series, as Michael Lee — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)

## Gallery

- ![Jack Bender](https://film.one/media/person/60883/gallery-cc7cb0fad8cd.jpg) Jack Bender — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Jack_Bender_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg/1280px-Jack_Bender_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![DSC_5594 (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/60883/gallery-4ff0183ea459.jpg) DSC_5594 (2010) — Genevieve, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/DSC_5594_%284394563770%29.jpg/1280px-DSC_5594_%284394563770%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jack Bender and Brian K. Vaughn speaking at the 2013 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if use](https://film.one/media/person/60883/gallery-828e0f318d12.jpg) Jack Bender and Brian K. Vaughn speaking at the 2013 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if use — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Jack_Bender_%26_Brian_K._Vaughan_%288610668803%29.jpg/1280px-Jack_Bender_%26_Brian_K._Vaughan_%288610668803%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jack Bender in Madrid (2010).](https://film.one/media/person/60883/gallery-d9bece720774.jpg) Jack Bender in Madrid (2010). — Alejandro Ramos, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Jack_Bender_%282010%29.jpg/1280px-Jack_Bender_%282010%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jack Bender](https://film.one/media/person/60883/gallery-57318a9cdc95.jpg) Jack Bender — Image via TMDB
- ![Jack Bender at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/60883/gallery-36098b35a2ed.jpg) Jack Bender at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Jack_Bender_%285981201782%29.jpg/1280px-Jack_Bender_%285981201782%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jack Bender speaking at the 2013 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/60883/gallery-dc39ab4da78e.jpg) Jack Bender speaking at the 2013 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Jack_Bender_%288611783164%29.jpg/1280px-Jack_Bender_%288611783164%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/jack-bender