Rod Amateau | |
---|---|
Born |
New York City, United States |
December 20, 1923
Died | June 29, 2003 Los Angeles, United States |
(aged 79)
Other names | Rodney Amateau |
Years active | 1950–1989 |
Spouse(s) |
Coleen Gray 1945–1949 Sandra Burns 1959–1962 |
Rodney "Rod" Amateau (December 20, 1923 – June 29, 2003) was an American screenwriter, film and television director.
Among programs that he directed were NBC's The Dennis Day Show, CBS's sitcoms The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, starring Dwayne Hickman, Mister Ed, The Bob Cummings Show, starring Robert Cummings, and The New Phil Silvers Show, an unsuccessful attempt by comedian Phil Silvers to return to a regular series.
He was producer of TV shows such as My Mother the Car and Supertrain, and wrote the story for the 1988 film Sunset. Amateau also directed a few episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard, and appeared in a handful of episodes as an actor as well.
In 1987, he directed, produced, and co-wrote the The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, which is considered to be one of the worst films ever made.
From 1945 to 1949, he was married to actress Coleen Gray, who sued him for child support in 1955.
From 1959 to 1962, he was married to Sandra Burns, the adopted daughter of George Burns and Gracie Allen.
Amateau died from a cerebral hemorrhage in 2003.