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Gary Shimokawa

  • Director
  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Before venturing into Hollywood films and TV, Gary Shimokawa taught on the junior high and high school level in his hometown Los Angeles, and wrote on the Gardena Valley News, a local bi-weekly paper, as the Sports and Entertainment editor. In television, he has directed and produced shows for over 35 years (primarily half-hour multi-cam comedy shows for prime-time and cable) totaling over 600 episodes. He also co-wrote a comedy pilot for Nickelodeon cable TV network. Shimowaka holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Southern California (USC) in Comparative Literature.

Gary also served as an Adjunct Professor at USC for two years in the graduate film and television program and was also an Adjunct Professor at LMU in undergraduate television. He presently serves as a visiting professor at New York University's Kanbar Institute of Film & Television.
BornFebruary 13, 1942
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
BornFebruary 13, 1942
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Known for

    Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls (1985)
    The Golden Girls
    8.2
    TV Series
    • Director
    Count Basie at Carnegie Hall (1981)
    Count Basie at Carnegie Hall
    8.1
    TV Special
    • Producer
    • 1981
    Pat Morita and Susan Blanchard in Mr. T and Tina (1976)
    Mr. T and Tina
    4.4
    TV Series
    • Producer
    Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)
    Welcome Back, Kotter
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Director

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Director



    • Sherri (2009)
      Sherri
      6.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2009
    • Shannon Elizabeth, Marques Houston, Rashaan Nall, and Shondrella Avery in Cuts (2005)
      Cuts
      5.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2006
    • Jami Gertz, Mark Addy, Renee Olstead, Taylor Ball, and Soleil Borda in Still Standing (2002)
      Still Standing
      7.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2005
    • Eric Roberts, Andy Dick, Andrea Parker, Sara Rue, Sherri Shepherd, and Zachary Levi in Less Than Perfect (2002)
      Less Than Perfect
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2004
    • Ali Landry, Natalie Desselle Reid, Jason George, Brian Hooks, Sean Maguire, and Eve in Eve (2003)
      Eve
      6.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2004
    • Flex Alexander and Kyla Pratt in One on One (2001)
      One on One
      7.2
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2003
    • Titus (2000)
      Titus
      7.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2001–2002
    • Reba McEntire, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Mitch Holleman, Ryan Mouritsen, Melissa Peterman, Scarlett Pomers, Christopher Rich, and Steve Howey in Reba (2001)
      Reba
      6.8
      TV Series
      • directed by
      • 2001–2002
    • Love Thy Neighbor
      TV Movie
      • Director
      • 2001
    • Nicholas Guest, Josh Holland, Elena Lyons, James Madio, Thomas Magiar, Kristen Miller, Marquita Terry, and Angela Visser in USA High (1997)
      USA High
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 1997–1998
    • Priscilla Inga Taylor, Edward Blatchford, Jason Hayes, Wendi Kenya, and Trevor Merszei in Malibu, CA (1998)
      Malibu, CA
      5.8
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 1998
    • Kwik Witz (1996)
      Kwik Witz
      8.0
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 1996
    • Shelley Fabares, Craig T. Nelson, Bill Fagerbakke, Kenneth Kimmins, and Jerry Van Dyke in Coach (1989)
      Coach
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 1996
    • Alex Datcher, Scott Grimes, Sherman Hemsley, Bianca Lawson, Joseph Maher, and Dorien Wilson in Goode Behavior (1996)
      Goode Behavior
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 1996–1997
    • Tamera Mowry-Housley, Tim Reid, Jackée Harry, and Tia Mowry in Sister, Sister (1994)
      Sister, Sister
      6.3
      TV Series
      • directed by
      • 1995

    Second Unit or Assistant Director



    • Joe Pantoliano, Christopher Meloni, Ned Eisenberg, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Andy Hirsch in The Fanelli Boys (1990)
      The Fanelli Boys
      7.3
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1990
    • Mama's Boy
      5.3
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1987
    • Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls (1985)
      The Golden Girls
      8.2
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1985–1987
    • Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)
      Faerie Tale Theatre
      8.3
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1987
    • Sherman Hemsley in Amen (1986)
      Amen
      6.8
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1986
    • Harry Anderson, Selma Diamond, Ellen Foley, John Larroquette, Charles Robinson, and Richard Moll in Night Court (1984)
      Night Court
      7.7
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • assistant director
      • 1984–1985
    • Hail to the Chief (1985)
      Hail to the Chief
      7.1
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1985
    • Finola Hughes, Maurice Benard, Steve Burton, Genie Francis, Kelly Monaco, Laura Wright, Donnell Turner, Tanisha Harper, Josh Kelly, Eden McCoy, Josh Swickard, and Tabyana Ali in General Hospital (1963)
      General Hospital
      6.6
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1983
    • Carroll O'Connor in Archie Bunker's Place (1979)
      Archie Bunker's Place
      6.4
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1980–1982
    • Gloria (1982)
      Gloria
      4.7
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1982
    • Nancy McKeon, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Charlotte Rae, and Lisa Whelchel in The Facts of Life (1979)
      The Facts of Life
      6.9
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1979–1980
    • Dorothy (1979)
      Dorothy
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1979
    • Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)
      All in the Family
      8.4
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • second assistant director
      • 1973–1977
    • John Amos, Ralph Carter, Ja'net DuBois, Esther Rolle, BernNadette Stanis, and Jimmie 'JJ' Walker in Good Times (1974)
      Good Times
      7.4
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • assistant director
      • 1975
    • Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)
      Welcome Back, Kotter
      7.1
      TV Series
      • associate director
      • 1975

    Additional Crew



    • Mister T (1983)
      Mister T
      5.8
      TV Series
      • director: live action sequences
      • 1983–1985
    • Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)
      All in the Family
      8.4
      TV Series
      • stage manager
      • 1972–1973
    • The Joker's Wild (1972)
      The Joker's Wild
      6.8
      TV Series
      • stage manager (1972-1975)
      • 1972–1991

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Alternative name
      • Gary K. Shimokawa
    • Born
      • February 13, 1942
      • Los Angeles County, California, USA

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