George Schaefer

Biography

George Louis Schaefer (December 16, 1920 – September 10, 1997) was an American director of television and Broadway theatre, who was active from the 1950s to the 1990s. Schaefer was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, and lived in Oak Park, Illinois for much of his boyhood and young adulthood. He was the son of Elsie (née Otterbein) and Louis Schaefer, who worked in sales. Schaefer studied stage directing at the Yale School of Drama. He began his directing career while serving in the U.S. Army Special Services during World War II. He directed over 50 plays for the troops. After being discharged, he directed for the Broadway theatre. His first production was of Shakespeare's Hamlet starring Maurice Evans. In 1953, Schaefer won a Tony Award for his production of The Teahouse of the August Moon which he co-produced with Evans. During the Golden Age of Television, Schaefer directed numerous live TV adaptations of Broadway plays for NBC's Hallmark Hall of Fame. His first episode for Hallmark was an adaptation of his Broadway staging of Hamlet starring Evans. In the 1980s, several of his productions for Hallmark aired in syndication under the title George Schaefer Showcase Theatre. His te…

Directed

1. The Bunker (1981) — Director
2. Doctors' Wives (1971) — Director
3. An Enemy of the People (1978) — Director
4. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1983) — Director
5. Right of Way (1983) — Director
6. Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) — Director
7. Stone Pillow (1985) — Director
8. Once Upon a Scoundrel (1974) — Director
9. Pendulum (1969) — Director
10. Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure (1979) — Director
11. F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Last of the Belles (1974) — Director
12. A Piano for Mrs. Cimino (1982) — Director
13. Harvey (1996) — Director
14. Alice in Wonderland (1955) — Director
15. The Deadly Game (1982) — Director
16. In This House of Brede (1975) — Director
17. Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry (1986) — Director
18. Barefoot in Athens (1966) — Director
19. Generation (1969) — Director
20. One Touch of Venus (1955) — Director
21. Kiss Me, Kate (1958) — Director
22. Laura Lansing Slept Here (1988) — Director
23. NBC Sunday Showcase (1959) — Director
24. Alcoa Premiere (1961) — Director
25. Kraft Mystery Theatre (1961) — Director
26. Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1964) — Director
27. The Man Upstairs (1992) — Director
28. Macbeth (1954) — Director
29. A War of Children (1972) — Director
30. Macbeth (1964) — Director
31. The Fantasticks (1964) — Director
32. Blind Ambition (1979) — Director
33. Lincoln (1974) — Director
34. The Tempest (1960) — Director
35. Our Town (1977) — Director
36. Blithe Spirit (1966) — Director
37. Who'll Save Our Children? (1978) — Director
38. The Admirable Crichton (1968) — Director
39. Inherit the Wind (1965) — Director
40. Meet Me in St. Louis (1959) — Director

Also appeared in

1. Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) — Mike