Gabrielle Beaumont (born Gabrielle Toyne; ) was a British-American film and television director. She is regarded as one of the most prolific female television directors of the 80s and 90s, breaking into the industry at a time when there were "fewer than 100 professional female directors in the US." She was the first woman to work on numerous series, including being the first female director of a Star Trek episode.

Early life Beaumont was born Gabrielle Toyne on in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire to producer and stuntman Gabriel Toyne and actress Diana Beaumont. Her brother was actor and producer Christopher Toyne. She attended Our Lady of Sion School in London. Following her graduation, she took her mother's maiden name, Beaumont, as her surname.

Career Beaumont began her career as an actress, before moving to theatre production and stage management. In 1964, she was hired as an editor for the BBC. She transitioned in the company to directing and production management, before leaving the company to pursue film production. In 1971, she made her directorial debut with the horror films The Johnstown Monster and Crucible of Horror. From 1973 to 1980, she worked for Thames Television where she directed daytime television programs.

In 1980, Beaumont produced and directed the horror film The Godsend. After its American release, Beaumont was able to secure a meeting with American television producer Aaron Spelling. Following the meeting, she moved to America and began a decades-long working relationship with Spelling, who hired her to direct shows such as Vega$, Hart to Hart, Glitter, and Beverly Hills, 90210. While working with Spelling on Dynasty, she recommended that he cast her friend Joan Collins as Alexis Colby.

When Beaumont first moved to California, she was one of less than 100 professional female directors working in the film and television industry. Despite this, Beaumont stated that the US provided more opportunities for women than the UK, choosing to stay in America for the remainder of her directorial career. In 1986, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her direction on the set of Hill Street Blues. In 1989, she became the first woman to direct an episode of Star Trek, working on the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Booby Trap".

She received criticism from media outlets in 1998, after she directed the TV movie Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess. The film focused on Princess Diana's relationship with Dodi Fayed prior to their death and was described by reviewers as "tacky." Beaumont retired from directing in 2000.

Later life Following her retirement, Beaumont moved to Mallorca, where she had owned a vacation home since 1969. She took up screenwriting and adapted The King's General into a miniseries script. She later opened up a restaurant in the village of Fornalutx.

Beaumont died of cancer at her home in Fornalutx on , at the age of 80.

Personal life

Beaumont was married to actor and screenwriter Olaf Pooley from 1982 until their divorce in 1993. The couple had a daughter, Amanda Pooley, who died in 1989. In 1994, Beaumont married cinematographer Michael J Davis. The two remained together until Davis' death in 2008.

Beaumont was the cousin of Daphne du Maurier.

Filmography

Year Title Notes 1971 The Johnstown Monster Producer Crucible of Horror 19731976 Good Afternoon! 1974 Marked Personal 8 episodes 1975 Couples 2 episodes 1977 Rooms 3 episodes 1978 Shadows Episode: "The Silver Apple" The Tomorrow People 2 episodes 19781980 Rainbow 1980 The Godsend Vega$ Episode: "Sudden Death" 19801981 Secrets of Midland Heights 2 episodes 1981 The Waltons Episode: "The Tempest" M*A*S*H Episode: "The Red/White Blues" The Greatest American Hero 2 episodes Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story Knots Landing 2 episodes 19811982 Dynasty 4 episodes 1982 The Dukes of Hazzard Episode: "Bad Day in Hazzard" Archie Bunker's Place Episode: "The Second Time Around" Private Benjamin 6 episodes 19821983 Hart to Hart 5 episodes 1983 Zorro and Son 2 episodes Secrets of a Mother and Daughter TV movie 19831986 Hill Street Blues 7 episodes 1984 AfterMASH Episode: "By the Book" Gone Are the Dayes TV movie Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense Episode: "The Corvini Inheritance" Cagney & Lacey Episode: "Lady Luck" 19841985 Glitter 2 episodes 19851986 Remington Steele 3 episodes Hotel 4 episodes 1986 The Colbys 2 episodes 1987 Miami Vice 2 episodes Duet Episode: "Elegy" He's My Girl Beauty and the Beast Episode: "A Children's Story" 1988 A Year in the Life 2 episodes 1988 ABC Afterschool Special Episode: "Tattle: When to Tell on a Friend" 19881992 L.A. Law 4 episodes 1989 Beverly Hills Buntz 2 episodes Dirty Dancing Episode: "Don't Make Me Over" Studio 5-B Episode: "The Aftermath" Nightmare Classics Episode: "Carmilla" The Paradise Club 2 episodes 19891992 Doogie Howser, M.D. 3 episodes 19891994 Star Trek: The Next Generation 7 episodes 1990 TECX 2 episodes Screen One Episode: "One Last Chance" 1991 Palace Guard Episode: "Eye of Newt" 1992 The Fifth Corner Episode "Women at her Toilette"; Unaired 1993 Riders TV movie Law & Order Episode: "Apocrypha" seaQuest DSV Episode: "SeaWest" Fatal Inheritance TV movie 1994 Moment of Truth: Cradle of Conspiracy TV movie The Other Woman TV movie 19941998 Beverly Hills, 90210 2 episodes 1995 Vanishing Son 2 episodes 1996 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman 2 episodes Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus TV movie The Pretender Episode: "The Paper Clock" 1997 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Episode: "In Purgatory's Shadow" Pacific Palisades Episode: "Best Laid Plans" 7th Heaven 3 episodes Touched by an Angel 3 episodes 1998 Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess TV movie Melrose Place Episode: "Suddenly Sperm 2000 Star Trek: Voyager Episode: "Blink of an Eye" Baywatch 2 episodes

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