Alan Rafkin

Biography

Alan Rafkin (July 23, 1928 – August 6, 2001) was an American director, producer, and actor for television. Rafkin was born in New York City to Til and Victor Rafkin. He attended Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey and Syracuse University in New York. Alan Rafkin was one of the most prolific sitcom directors of all time, helming such series as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, What's Happening!!, M*A*S*H, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Murphy Brown, Get Smart, Coach, The Tim Conway Show, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, and Viva Valdez. According to his autobiography Cue the Bunny on the Rainbow (its title is taken from a direction on Captain Kangaroo), Rafkin directed episodes of over 80 different sitcom series. He won an Emmy for an episode of "One Day At A Time" and two CableACE Awards for his work on "It's Garry Shandling's Show".[2] During his career he worked with legendary producers such as Sheldon Leonard, Danny Thomas, and Norman Lear. Rafkin had endearing relationships with many of his actors including Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart and Redd Foxx. (He was also close with D…

Directed

1. I Dream of Jeannie (1965) — Director
2. M*A*S*H (1972) — Director
3. Bewitched (1964) — Director
4. Get Smart (1965) — Director
5. The Love Boat (1977) — Director
6. The Andy Griffith Show (1960) — Director
7. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) — Director
8. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) — Director
9. Sanford and Son (1972) — Director
10. Murphy Brown (1988) — Director
11. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) — Director
12. Charles in Charge (1984) — Director
13. Laverne & Shirley (1976) — Director
14. The Odd Couple (1970) — Director
15. The Bob Newhart Show (1972) — Director
16. One Day at a Time (1975) — Director
17. Coach (1989) — Director
18. Alice (1976) — Director
19. The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) — Director
20. That Girl (1966) — Director
21. My Favorite Martian (1963) — Director
22. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964) — Director
23. Suddenly Susan (1996) — Director
24. What's Happening!! (1976) — Director
25. Rhoda (1974) — Director
26. 77 Sunset Strip (1958) — Director
27. Love, American Style (1969) — Director
28. It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986) — Director
29. Room 222 (1969) — Director
30. The Donna Reed Show (1958) — Director
31. How to Frame a Figg (1971) — Director
32. The Patty Duke Show (1963) — Director
33. The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969) — Director
34. The Ride to Hangman's Tree (1967) — Director
35. Jesse (1998) — Director
36. Laredo (1965) — Director
37. Ski Party (1965) — Director
38. The Doris Day Show (1968) — Director
39. Lotsa Luck (1973) — Director
40. The Ghost Writer (1990) — Director

Also appeared in

1. Coach (1989) — Ancient Man