Alan Rafkin
- Directing
- July 23, 1928 · New York City, New York, USA
- August 6, 2001
Biography
Alan Rafkin (July 23, 1928 – August 6, 2001) was an American director, producer, and actor for television. Rafkin was born in New York City to Til and Victor Rafkin. He attended Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey and Syracuse University in New York. Alan Rafkin was one of the most prolific sitcom directors of all time, helming such series as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, What's Happening!!, M*A*S*H, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Murphy Brown, Get Smart, Coach, The Tim Conway Show, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, and Viva Valdez. According to his autobiography Cue the Bunny on the Rainbow (its title is taken from a direction on Captain Kangaroo), Rafkin directed episodes of over 80 different sitcom series. He won an Emmy for an episode of "One Day At A Time" and two CableACE Awards for his work on "It's Garry Shandling's Show".[2] During his career he worked with legendary producers such as Sheldon Leonard, Danny Thomas, and Norman Lear. Rafkin had endearing relationships with many of his actors including Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart and Redd Foxx. (He was also close with Don Knotts, directing him on the Griffith show and in three feature films.) At the same time, he had volatile relationships with several others, including Demond Wilson and Craig T. Nelson.
Known for
Filmography
- Jesse · Director
- The Closer · Director
- Chicago Sons · Director
- Suddenly Susan · Director
- The Jeff Foxworthy Show · Director
- Hope and Gloria · Director
- A Bewitched Christmas · Director
- Good Advice · Director
- The Ghost Writer · Director
- A Family for Joe · Director
- Chicken Soup · Director
- Coach · Ancient Man, Director
- Murphy Brown · Director
- First Impressions · Director
- She's the Sheriff · Director
- CBS Summer Playhouse · Director
- It's Garry Shandling's Show · Director
- Charlie & Co. · Director
- Charles in Charge · Director
- Glitter · Director
- We Got It Made · Director
- Hanging In · Director
- Hello, Larry · Director
- The Love Boat · Director
- Alice · Director
- What's Happening!! · Director
- Viva Valdez · Director
- Laverne & Shirley · Director
- One Day at a Time · Director, Producer
- Let's Switch! · Director
- Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers · Director
- Rhoda · Director
- That's My Mama · Director
- The Girl with Something Extra · Director
- Lotsa Luck · Director
- Daddy's Girl · Director
- M*A*S*H · Director
- The Bob Newhart Show · Director
- Temperatures Rising · Director
- The Super · Director, Producer
- Sanford and Son · Director
- The New Dick Van Dyke Show · Director
- How to Frame a Figg · Director
- The Odd Couple · Director
- Arnie · Director
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show · Director
- The Tim Conway Show · Director
- Love, American Style · Director
- The Courtship of Eddie's Father · Director
- My World and Welcome to It · Director
- Room 222 · Director
- Angel in My Pocket · Director
- The Good Guys · Director
- The Doris Day Show · Director
- The Shakiest Gun in the West · Director
- Nobody's Perfect · Director
- The Ride to Hangman's Tree · Director
- Pistols 'n' Petticoats · Director
- That Girl · Director
- The Ghost and Mr. Chicken · Director
- I Dream of Jeannie · Director
- Get Smart · Director
- Laredo · Director
- Ski Party · Director
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. · Director
- Valentine's Day · Director
- Bewitched · Director
- My Favorite Martian · Director
- The Farmer's Daughter · Director
- The Patty Duke Show · Director
- The Dick Van Dyke Show · Director
- The Andy Griffith Show · Director
- 77 Sunset Strip · Director
- The Donna Reed Show · Director