Marty Callner

{{Infobox person

| name = Marty Callner

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|8|25}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|3|17|1946|8|25}}

| death_place = Malibu, California, U.S.

| education =

| occupation = Director

| spouse = {{ubl|Jan Mussara (divorced)|Aleeza Zelcer}}

| children = 4

| parents =

| website = {{URL|martycallner.com}}

}}

Martin Henry Callner (August 25, 1946 – March 17, 2025) was an American director who made music videos, comedy specials, concert specials and television shows. He was the creator of HBO's Hard Knocks,{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Mike |date=March 19, 2025 |title=Marty Callner, Director of Iconic Music Videos, Concert Specials and Stand-Up Shows, Dies at 78 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/marty-callner-dead-music-videos-concert-specials-stand-ups-1236168572/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}} and was nominated for numerous Primetime Emmy Awards, Directors Guild of America Awards, CableACE Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.

Background

Born in Chicago on August 25, 1946, Martin Henry Callner grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, raised primarily by his mother.{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/arts/television/marty-callner-dead.html|title = Marty Callner, Director of Comedy Specials and Music Videos, Dies at 78|last = Sandomir|first = Richard|date = March 23, 2025|accessdate = March 23, 2025|newspaper = The New York Times|url-access = limited}} He attended three universities but did not earn a degree.

Career

Callner began his career at a Cincinnati television station in 1969, before moving to Boston's WBZ-TV, where he directed Boston Celtics broadcasts. He began directing stand-up specials for HBO in 1975. He moved into music videos a few years later, after being inspired by the video for the Kim Carnes song "Bette Davis Eyes". His directorial credits on music videos include videos for Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Chaka Khan, Cher, Diana Ross, Stevie Nicks, Heart, Kiss, Poison, Ratt, Lita Ford, The Cranberries, Scorpions, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake and ZZ Top.

His music video specials include Bette Midler's Diva Las Vegas, Pat Benatar's In Concert, Britney Spears: Live from Las Vegas, Diana Ross Live at Caesar's Palace, Fleetwood Mac's Mirage Tour, Garth Brooks Live from Central Park, Gladys Knight Live at the Greek Theatre, Gloria Estefan's Caribbean Soul: The Atlantis Concert, Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveShow, Marc Anthony's Concert from Madison Square Garden, Paul Simon Live at the Tower Theatre, Rolling Stones' Four Flicks, Stevie Nicks's Bella Donna, and Whitney Houston's Whitney: The Concert for a New South Africa.

He also directed recordings of performances by comedians including Redd Foxx, Pee-wee Herman, Sam Kinison, George Carlin, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Dane Cook, John Leguizamo, Billy Crystal, George Lopez, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Whitney Cummings, and Will Ferrell.

Personal life and death

Callner and his first wife, Jan Mussara, had two children. After they divorced, he married Aleeza Zelcer, with whom he also had two children. He died at his home in Malibu, California, on March 17, 2025, at the age of 78.