Rod Holcomb
{{Short description|American television director and producer (1943–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rod Holcomb
| image = Rod-holcomb-bio_resize.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Holcomb in 2003
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1943|5|28}}
| birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|1|24|1943|5|28}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = Television director and producer
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}
Rod Holcomb (May 28, 1943 – January 24, 2024) was an American television director and producer, best known for directing the pilot and finale of ER.
Holcomb directed episodes of numerous television series, including Quincy, M.E., The Six Million Dollar Man, Battlestar Galactica, Fantasy Island, The A-Team, The District, Lost, Invasion, Shark, China Beach, Wiseguy, The Equalizer, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, The Devlin Connection, The Greatest American Hero, Hill Street Blues, The West Wing, and Numb3rs.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}
Life and career
In 1979, Holcomb directed the television film Captain America.{{cite web |title=Captain America (1979) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b741398c2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207033652/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b741398c2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |website=BFI |access-date=November 21, 2022 |language=en}} In 1994, he directed pilot episode of ER, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and won a Directors Guild of America Award.{{cite news |title=Emmys: A final hurrah for "ER" |url=https://variety.com/2009/tv/news/emmys-a-final-hurrah-for-er-18127/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=Variety |date=September 22, 2009}} In 1996, he directed the episode "Last Call" and was nominated for another Primetime Emmy.{{cite news |last1=Richmond |first1=Ray |title=HBO bests Big 3 in Emmy noms |url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/hbo-bests-big-3-in-emmy-noms-1116675892/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=Variety |date=July 25, 1997}} He returned to the show in 2009 to direct its final episode and received a Primetime Emmy for doing so.
In 1997, Holcomb was announced as the director of a Showtime miniseries titled Dying for Our Country.{{cite news |last1=Richmond |first1=Ray |title=Bogdanovich, Badham set for Showtime pix |url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/bogdanovich-badham-set-for-showtime-pix-111661025/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=Variety |date=October 6, 1997}} It aired the next year under the title Thanks of a Grateful Nation.{{cite news |last1=Richmond |first1=Ray |title=Thanks of a Grateful Nation |url=https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/thanks-of-a-grateful-nation-1117477574/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=Variety |date=May 27, 1998}} In 2001, he directed the pilot episode of The Education of Max Bickford, and served as executive producer for the overall show.{{cite news |last1=Speier |first1=Michael |title=The Education of Max Bickford |url=https://variety.com/2001/tv/features/the-education-of-max-bickford-1117798917/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=Variety |date=September 18, 2001}}
In 2004, Holcomb served as chair of the Directors Guild of America's television creative rights committee.{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Guild targets global goals |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/awards/guild-targets-global-goals-1117899683/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=Variety |date=February 5, 2004}}
Holcomb died on January 24, 2024, at the age of 80.{{cite news |title=Rod Holcomb, Emmy-Winning 'ER' and 'Lost' Director, Dies at 80 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/rod-holcomb-dies-er-director-obit/ |access-date=26 January 2024 |publisher=The Wrap |date=26 January 2024}}
=Directing style=
On his role as a guest director, Holcomb stated:
{{Blockquote
|text=I generally go in with a clear understanding that the actors have a responsibility to the series [...] They own those roles. They own those characters. My responsibility is to help them become the best actors they can be within those parameters. You’re trying to continue the prosperity and success of that series as well as being an artist.{{cite news |last1=Saval |first1=Malina |title=Guest directors, vet actors |url=https://variety.com/2009/scene/awards/guest-directors-vet-actors-1118007378/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=Variety |date=August 17, 2009}}
}}
=Unreleased works=
In 1997, Holcomb was announced as the director of an adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's novel A Fall of Moondust.{{cite news |last1=Busch |first1=Anita M. |title=Three exex rise at the Bubble Factory |url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/three-exex-rise-at-the-bubble-factory-1117434291/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=Variety |date=January 9, 1997}} In 1999, he was hired to direct a WWII drama pilot titled Skylark.{{cite news |last1=Hontz |first1=Jenny |title=ABC orders reality, comedy pilots |url=https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/abc-orders-reality-comedy-pilots-1117491463/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=Variety |date=February 19, 1999}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable plainheaders" |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" data-sort-type="number"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable"|Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |
| 1985
|Director |Credited as Alan Smithee |
| 1991
|Director |German theatrical release |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable plainheaders" |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! scope="row" data-sort-type="number"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable"|Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |
| 1979
|Director |Television film |
| 1993
|Director |Television film |
| 1994
|ER |Director |Episode: "24 Hours" |
| 1994
|Director |Television film |
| 1995
|Convict Cowboy |Director |Television film |
| 1996
|ER |Director |Episode: "Last Call" |
| 1998
|Director |Miniseries |
| 2000
|Hopewell |Director/Executive Producer (Showrunner) |Television film |
| 2001
|The Education of Max Bickford |Director |Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2001–2002
|The Education of Max Bickford |Executive producer | |
| 2003
|Executive producer | |
| 2003
|Director |Television film |
| 2005
|Director |Television film |
| 2006–2008
|Executive producer | |
| 2007
|Director |Episode: "No Such Thing as Vampires" |
| 2007–2008
|Moonlight |Executive producer | |
| 2009
|Lost |Director |Episode: "Jughead" |
| 2009
|ER |Director |Episode: "And in the End..." |
| 2010
|Director |Television film |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref|References}} |
|---|
| 1988
|Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series |China Beach: Pilot |{{nominated}} |
| 1989
|Directors Guild of America Awards |Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials |China Beach: Pilot |{{nominated}} | |
| 1994
|Directors Guild of America Awards |Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials |{{won}} |
| 1995
| Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Drama Series |{{nominated}} |
| 1997
|Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series |ER: Last Call |{{nominated}} |
| 2004
|Directors Guild of America Awards |Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television |{{nominated}} |
| 2004
|The Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors Honors Awards |Directing | |{{nominated}} |
| 2009
|Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series |{{won}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{imdb name|0390103}}
{{Rod Holcomb}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Rod Holcomb
|list =
{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaAwardMiniseriesorTVFilm}}
{{EmmyAward DirectingDrama}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holcomb, Rob}}
Category:American television directors
Category:American television producers
Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners