Biography
Jack Shea was an American television director. Born John Francis Shea Jr. on 1 August 1928 in New York City, he died on 28 April 2013 in Tarzana, California. He graduated from Fordham University with a degree in history and began his career in television as a stage manager in the early 1950s. After service in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, where he made instructional films, he worked as an associate director before directing from 1958 onwards.
Shea directed episodes of numerous series, including The Jeffersons (for which he directed 110 episodes), Silver Spoons (91 episodes), Sanford and Son, The Waltons, Growing Pains, Designing Women and The Golden Girls (1985). He received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work on The Bob Hope Show in 1961 and Designing Women in 1987.
From 1997 to 2002 Shea served as president of the Directors Guild of America. He was active in the guild for over five decades, including roles in its formation through the 1960 merger of earlier directors' organisations.
