Andrew Tennant is an American screenwriter, film and television director, actor, and dancer.
Early life Tennant was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Flossmoor, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His father was Don Tennant, a creative advertising talent with Leo Burnett Agency in Chicago. As a boy, he spent his summers on Old Mission Peninsula in northern Michigan and at Camp Minocqua in northern Wisconsin. He graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 1973. He studied theater under John Houseman at University of Southern California.
Career
Feature film director He made his feature film directorial debut in 1995 with the comedy/family film It Takes Two starring Kirstie Alley, Steve Guttenberg and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. He directed the romantic comedy film Fools Rush In starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek in 1997. He directed and wrote the romantic/drama film Ever After: A Cinderella Story re-teaming with Drew Barrymore in 1998. He directed the biographical drama film Anna and the King loosely based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam, which gave a fictionalized account of the diaries of Anna Leonowens starring Oscar-winner Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat in 1999. He directed the romantic/comedy film Sweet Home Alabama starring Reese Witherspoon in 2002. He returned to television to direct as well as co-produce an episode of the Fox drama series The American Embassy starring Arija Bareikis in 2002. He returned to direct the romantic comedy film Hitch starring Will Smith and Eva Mendes in 2005. He directed the made-for-television Fox movie The Wedding Album starring Bruno Campos and Tara Summers in 2006. He directed the romantic comedy/adventure film Fool's Gold starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson in 2008. He directed the made-for-television movie Operating Instructions in 2009. He directed the action/romantic-comedy film The Bounty Hunter starring Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston in 2010. He directed the made-for-television movie Thunderballs in 2011. He served as an executive producer for the ESPN sports newsmagazine series E:60 earning three Emmy nominations and one win from 2011-2016. He directed an episode of the Amazon Video web series Betas starring Joe Dinicol in 2013. He directed the comedy film Wild Oats starring Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Lange in 2016. He directed two episodes of the Netflix web series The Kominsky Method starring Michael Douglas in 2018.
Personal life Tennant married photographer Sharon Kay Johnson on February 13, 1993. The couple have four children, three of whom are triplets. They currently reside in Los Angeles, California.
Filmography Film YearTitleDirectorWriterRef.1995It Takes Two1997Fools Rush In1998Ever After: A Cinderella Story1999Anna and the King2002Sweet Home Alabama2005Hitch2008Fool's Gold2010The Bounty Hunter2016Wild Oats 2020 The Secret: Dare to Dream 2024 Unit 234
Acting roles YearTitleRole1978GreaseDancer #19Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club BandDancer19791941Babyface1980Midnight MadnessMelio - Blue Team1982Grease 2Boy Greaser
Television YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes1989-1991The Wonder YearsEpisodes "Math Class" and "Heartbreak"1990Ferris BuellerDirected episode "Sloan Again, Naturally",wrote episode "Stand-In Deliver"1990-1991Parker Lewis Can't Lose4 episodes1992Bill & Ted's Excellent AdventuresEpisode "Unaired Pilot"Great Scott!Episode "Pyrrhic Lyric"1993The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.Episodes "Socrates’ Sister" and "Brisco for the Defense"South of SunsetEpisode "Satyricon"1994The Byrds of ParadiseEpisode "In Todd We Trust"1995SlidersEpisode "Pilot"2002The American EmbassyEpisode "Pilot"2011-2016E:60Documentary series;58 episodes;2013BetasEpisode "Lowdown"2018-2021The Kominsky Method11 episodes2023-2025Bookie12 episodes
TV movies YearTitleDirectorWriterProducer1988Moving Target1992Keep the ChangeDesperate Choices: To Save My ChildWhat She Doesn't Know1993The Amy Fisher Story2006The Wedding Album2009Operating Instructions2011Thunderballs
Awards and nominations YearTitleAward/Nomination2011-2016E:60Sports Emmy award for Outstanding Sports Journalism (2014)Nominated - News & Documentary Emmy award for Outstanding Feature Story (2015)Nominated - News & Documentary Emmy award for Outstanding Feature Story (2016)
References
External links