Jeff McCracken

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{{Infobox person

| name = Jeff McCracken

| image = File:Artist in NYC.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = McCracken in NYC

| birth_name =

| other_names =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|09|12}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, US

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater =

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actor
director
producer
artist}}

| years_active = 1978–present

| spouse = Janet Taylor McCracken

}}

Jeff McCracken (born September 12, 1952) is an American actor, director, producer, and artist.

Early life and education

Born in Chicago, McCracken graduated Evanston Township High School in 1970. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, where he attained the rank of sergeant.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} McCracken earned a Bachelor of Arts a degree in creative writing from Goddard College.{{cite web|title=Jeff McCracken|url=http://mklennon.com/nywriters/?p=361|website=mklennon.com|accessdate=19 October 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181116083930/http://mklennon.com/nywriters/?p=361|archive-date= 2018-11-16}}

Career

After studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City he began his acting career on Broadway and off-Broadway, including Breakfast with Les and Bess by Lee Kalcheim.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} As a member of the Circle Repertory Company he appeared in Confluence by Lanford Wilson, John Bishop and Beth Henley.{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/11/theater/stage-confluence-3-one-acters-at-circle-rep.html|title= Stage: 'Confluence,' 3 One-Acters, at Circle Rep|last= Rich|first= Frank|date= 11 January 1982|website= The New York Times|access-date= |quote=}}{{cite web |url= http://www.iobdb.com/Production/2174|title= Confluence|author= |date= |website= iobdb.com|publisher= Internet Off-Broadway Database|access-date= |quote=}} He also had roles in films, including The One Man Jury (1978), Stranger in Our House (1979), Kent State (1981),{{cite web |url= https://www.tvguide.com/movies/kent-state/cast/2000031633/|title= Kent State - Full Cast & Crew|author= |date= |website= tvguide.com|publisher= TV Guide|access-date= |quote=}} Running Brave (1985), and Waiting for the Light (1990). He appeared in television series, Bay City Blues and Hawaiian Heat, as well as guest starring in other series such as: JAG, thirtysomething, The Hitchhiker, St. Elsewhere, The Torkelsons, All is Forgiven, LAX, and Private Eye.

McCracken developed and co-produced the feature film Quiz Show.{{cite web |url= https://www.tvguide.com/movies/quiz-show/cast/2030123468/|title= Quiz Show - Full Cast & Crew|author= |date= |website= tvguide.com|publisher= TV Guide|access-date= |quote=}} He was production executive on Pastime.{{cite web |url= https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/86365/pastime#credits|title= Pastime|author= |date= |website= Turner Classic Movies|publisher= TCM|access-date= |quote=}}

While at the Walt Disney Company he developed, produced and directed television shows Boy Meets World; Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane; Dinosaurs;{{cite news |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/person/47148/Jeff-McCracken |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104181121/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/47148/Jeff-McCracken |archive-date=2012-11-04 |title= Jeff McCracken at Movies & TV|author= |work=The New York Times |date= |access-date= |quote=}} and You Wish, as well as developing and overseeing production of The Torkelsons, Maybe This Time, Misery Loves Company, Where I Live, and Singer and Sons. In all he has directed over seventy episodes of television, including NYPD Blue, Boy Meets World, Dinosaurs, Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane, Still Standing, The Trouble With Normal, Suite Life of Zach and Cody, and Smart Guy.

His artwork has appeared in the magazine The Guide Artists.{{cite web |url= https://theguideartists.com/extreme/interview-with-jeff-mccracken/|title= Interview with Jeff McCracken |last= Gómez|first= Jennifer|date= 13 December 2021|website= theguideartists.com|publisher= The Guide Artists|access-date= |quote=}} He taught for several years at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, becoming an associate professor in 2008,{{cite web |url= https://blogs.chapman.edu/dodge/2008/10/06/dodge-college-announces-key-additions-to-faculty-for-fall-2008/|title= Dodge College Announces Key Additions to Faculty for Fall 2008|author= |date= |website= blogs.chapman.edu|publisher= Chapman University|access-date= |quote=}} and in 2016 he was a teacher at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.{{cite web |url= https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/boy-meets-world-halloween-episode-and-then-there-was-shawn-130029292.html|title= Inside 'And Then There Was Shawn,' the Scary-Funny 'Boy Meets World' Halloween Episode|last= Alter|first= Ethan|date= 26 October 2016|website= yahoo.com|publisher= Yahoo! Entertainment|access-date= |quote=}}

Personal life

McCracken lives in Washington, Connecticut, with his wife, Janet Taylor McCracken, who is a food editor.{{cite web |url= https://www.thekitchn.com/authors/janet-taylor-mccracken|title= Janet Taylor McCracken|author= |date= |website= thekitchn.com|publisher= kitchn|access-date= |quote=}}{{better source needed|date=May 2022}} They have three children.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}