Don Weis (May 13, 1922 – July 26, 2000) was an American film and television director.

Biography

Weis was born in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

to Emma (née Wiener; 1889–1971) and Meyer Weis (1886-1942). He graduated from the

University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8.1 ...

where he studied film. During World War II, Weis served in the Air Force as a film technician. After the war, he began working at

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

directing such films as ''Bannerline'' (1951), ''Just This Once'' (1952), ''You for Me'' (1952) and '' The Affairs of Dobie Gillis'' (1953). Weis began directing for television in 1954 and worked on such series as '' M*A*S*H'', '' Ironside'', '' It Takes a Thief'', '' Twilight Zone'', '' Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' (1955), ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The ...

'', ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marshall, it was one of the most su ...

'', '' Starsky and Hutch'', ''

CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The seri ...

'', ''

The Courtship of Eddie's Father ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'' is an American sitcom based on the 1963 film of the same name, which was based on a novel by Mark Toby (edited by Dorothy Wilson). The series is about a widower, Tom Corbett (played by Bill Bixby), who is a ...

'', ''

Hawaii Five-O Hawaii Five-O or Hawaii Five-0 may refer to: * ''Hawaii Five-0'' (2010 TV series), an American action police procedural television series * ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1968 TV series), an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productio ...

'', '' The Andros Targets'', and ''

The San Pedro Beach Bums ''The San Pedro Beach Bums'' is a 1977 American sitcom that aired on ABC. It is about five carefree, young men living together on a houseboat in San Pedro, California. The pilot, titled ''The San Pedro Bums'', originally aired on May 13, 1977.Mc ...

'', among others. Weis won two

Directors Guild of America Awards The Directors Guild of America Awards are issued annually by the Directors Guild of America. The first DGA Award was an "Honorary Life Member" award issued in 1938 to D. W. Griffith. The statues are made by New York firm, Society Awards. Categ ...

for television direction in 1956 and again in 1958. Weis married Dori in 1950. They had two daughters together, Deborah and Pamela, before they divorced in 1955. Weis married actress

Rebecca Welles Rebecca Welles (born Reba Tassell; February 5, 1928 – February 13, 2017) was an American television and film actress. Early years Welles was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Lena (née Schiller and Samuel Tassell. Her only sibling was fas ...

on August 25, 1961, in Los Angeles.California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985 Welles had two daughters from a previous marriage, Elizabeth and actress

Gwen Welles Gwen Welles (born Gwen Goldberg, March 4, 1951 – October 13, 1993) was an American actress. Early years Gwen Welles was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as Gwen Goldberg. She was the daughter of clothing designer Rebecca Welles and Barton ...

. Weis died in Los Angeles in 2000, at 78 years of age. He was interred in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Rebecca was interred beside him upon her passing in 2017.

Selected filmography

*''

Bannerline ''Bannerline'' is a 1951 American drama film directed by Don Weis. The film stars Keefe Brasselle, Sally Forrest and Lionel Barrymore. Plot Young Mike Perrivale (Keefe Brasselle) is an ambitious reporter for the Carravia ''Clarion'', who resents ...

'' (1951) *'' Just This Once'' (1952) *'' You for Me'' (1952) *''

I Love Melvin ''I Love Melvin'' is a 1953 American Technicolor musical romantic comedy film directed by Don Weis, starring Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds. According to MGM records, the film earned $1,316,000 in the United States and Canada and $654,000 ...

'' (1953) *'' The Affairs of Dobie Gillis'' (1953) *''

The Adventures of Hajji Baba ''The Adventures of Hajji Baba'' is a 1954 American CinemaScope adventure film directed by Don Weis and starring John Derek and Elaine Stewart. Made in Southern California, it was released on October 1, 1954. In the credits it states that the ...

'' (1954) * ''

Ride the High Iron ''Ride the High Iron'' is a 1956 American drama film directed by Don Weis and starring Don Taylor, Sally Forrest and Raymond Burr.Lentz p.450 Plot A returning Korean War veteran tries to cover-up his humble background when he becomes engaged to ...

'' (1956) *''Catch Me If You Can'' (1959) *''

The Gene Krupa Story ''The Gene Krupa Story'' (also known as ''Drum Crazy'') is a 1959 biopic of American drummer and bandleader Gene Krupa. The conflict in the film centers on Krupa's rise to success and his corresponding use of marijuana. Plot synopsis The young ...

'' (1959) *'' Critic's Choice'' (1963) *'' Pajama Party'' (1964) *'' Billie'' (1965) *''

The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini ''Ghost in the Invisible Bikini'' is the seventh and last of American International Pictures' beach party films. Released in 1966, the film features the cast cavorting in and around a haunted house and the adjacent swimming pool. No beach appea ...

'' (1966) *''

The King's Pirate ''The King's Pirate'' is a 1967 American pirate film directed by Don Weis and starring Doug McClure, Jill St. John and Guy Stockwell. It is a remake of the 1952 film ''Against All Flags''. Plot A British naval officer volunteers for a dangerous ...

'' (1967)

References

* "Don Weis; Film, Television Director", ''Los Angeles Times'', August 3, 2000. * "Don Weis, 78, Film and Television Director", ''The New York Times'', August 4, 2000. * "Obituary: Don Weis", ''The Independent'' (London), August 16, 2000.

External links

* * 1922 births 2000 deaths Jewish American military personnel Film directors from Wisconsin American television directors Artists from Milwaukee USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni First Motion Picture Unit personnel 20th-century American Jews {{tv-director-stub