John Erman (August 3, 1935 – June 25, 2021) was an American television director, producer, and actor. He was nominated for ten Primetime Emmy Awards, winning once for the film Who Will Love My Children? (1983). He also won two Directors Guild of America Awards for the miniseries Roots (1977) and the film An Early Frost (1985).
Career
Born in Hyde Park, Chicago, Erman spent the early years of his career, after a few small roles in films such as The Cosmic Man (1957), directing episodes of such primetime series as Peyton Place, The Fugitive, The Outer Limits (original series), Stoney Burke, Ben Casey, My Favorite Martian, That Girl, The Flying Nun, Marcus Welby, M.D., Star Trek (original series), and Judd, for the Defense.
Erman directed episodes of Roots and its sequel, Roots: The Next Generations, as well as Alex Haley's Queen. He helmed many television films, including Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn, Green Eyes, Child of Glass, The Scarlett O'Hara War, Who Will Love My Children?, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, Right to Kill?, An Early Frost, The Atlanta Child Murders, The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank, David, Breathing Lessons, Scarlett, The Sunshine Boys, Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke, The Boys Next Door, and Candles on Bay Street, many of which he also produced.
Erman directed the feature films Making It (1971), Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies (1973, credited as Bill Sampson) and Stella (1990).
Death Erman died on June 25, 2021, in New York City, New York after a brief illness, at age 85.
Awards and nominations Primetime Emmy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1977 Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Roots ("Part II") 1980 Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or Special The Scarlett O'Hara War 1983 Who Will Love My Children? 1984 A Streetcar Named Desire 1986 Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or Special An Early Frost 1987 Outstanding Miniseries The Two Mrs. Grenvilles 1988 Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or Special 1989 Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special David 1994 Outstanding Made for Television Movie Breathing Lessons
Directors Guild of America Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1978 Outstanding Directing – Drama Series Roots ("Part II") 1984 Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film Who Will Love My Children? 1986 An Early Frost
Filmography Film Director Making It (1971) Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies (1973) (Credited as "Bill Sampson") Stella (1990)
Actor Year Title Role Notes 1955 Blackboard Jungle Daly Uncredited1956 The Benny Goodman Story Harry Goodman (aged 16) Anything Goes Boy Uncredited 1959 The Cosmic Man Radar Operator
Television Year Title Director Producer Notes 1962-63 Stoney Burke 11 Episodes;Also assistant to producer 1963-64The Outer Limits 19 episodes (first season only);Also production associate, casting consultant1964 The Fugitive 1 Episode Ben Casey 1 Episode 1965 Karen 1 Episode 1965-66 My Favorite Martian 12 Episodes 1966 Please Don’t Eat The Daisies 6 Episodes 1966-67 That Girl 10 Episodes 1967 Occasional Wife 1 Episode 1967-68 The Second Hundred Years 4 Episodes1967-69 Judd, for the Defense 3 Episodes Peyton Place 12 Episodes1968 Star Trek 1 Episode The Flying Nun 4 Episodes 1968-70 The Ghost & Mrs. Muir 8 Episodes1969 Bracken's World 1 Episode Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. 2 Episodes 1969-74 Marcus Welby, M.D. 5 Episodes 1970 Room 222 2 Episodes 1971 Arnie 1 Episode 1974 The Girl with Something Extra 1 Episode1975 The Bob Newhart Show 1 Episode Karen 3 Episodes M*A*S*H 1 Episode1976 Family 4 Episodes Good Heavens 1 Episode 1977 Roots 1 Episode 1979 Roots: The Next Generations 3 Episodes 1985 The Atlanta Child Murders 1987 The Two Mrs. Grenvilles 1993 Alex Haley's Queen 1994 Scarlett 1999 Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke 2001 Victoria & Albert 2 Episodes
Actor Navy Log (1957) West Point (1957) Playhouse 90 (1958) Profiles in Courage (1965)
TV movies Year Title Director Producer 1973 Letters from Three Lovers 1977 Green Eyes Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn 1978 Child of Glass Just Me and You 1979 My Old Man 1980 The Scarlett O'Hara War This Year's Blonde The Silent Lovers 1982 The Letter Eleanor, First Lady of the World 1983 Another Woman's Child Who Will Love My Children? 1984 A Streetcar Named Desire 1985 Right to Kill? An Early Frost 1987 When the Time Comes 1988 The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank David 1990 The Last Best Year 1991 The Last to Go Our Sons Carolina Skeletons 1994 Breathing Lessons 1996 The Boys Next Door The Sunshine Boys 1997 Ellen Foster 1998 Only Love 2004 The Blackwater Lightship 2006 Candles on Bay Street
References
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