Tom Sherons, the director and producer best known for working on 81 of Seinfeld’s first 86 episodes during the show’s first five years, has died. He was 86 years old.
Cherones died of Alzheimer’s disease on January 5 at her home in Florence, Oregon, a family spokesperson said.
Sherons’ first directorial credit on “Seinfeld” was for the sitcom’s second episode, “The Stakeout,” which aired in May 1990. Known for wearing Hawaiian shirts on set, he contributed to the show’s visual language by shooting multi-camera in a way that achieved a more cinematic look than the standard sitcom aesthetic. He went on to direct many of the show’s more experimental episodes, including “Chinese Restaurant,” “Parking Lot,” and “Contest.”
Cherones appeared on camera once during his time on Seinfeld, playing “The Director” in the fourth season episode “The Pilot,” in which he said, “I’m going to tear that little guy (George Costanza, played by Jason Alexander) apart for a new guy.”
Sherons received six Emmy nominations for “Seinfeld,” and in 1993 shared the coveted award for Outstanding Comedy Series with creators Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. The sitcom also won a DGA Award and a Golden Globe Award.
Born September 11, 1939 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Mr. Cherons graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1961 with a degree in journalism. After serving as a U.S. Navy officer until 1965, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast and film communications from the University of Alabama in 1967.
Before joining Pittsburgh station WQED, Cherons produced and directed episodes of several shows and series for various PBS affiliates, where he worked on productions such as “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles and worked as a production manager on “General Hospital” and “Welcome Home, Kotter.” He then became an independent producer, working with Warner Bros., ABC, CBS, Paramount, Lorimer, and Mary Tyler Moore Productions. In 1980, he wrote and produced the feature film Two of Hearts for cable and public television. His credits also include “Caroline in the City,” “NewsRadio,” “Ellen,” “Boston Common,” “Growing Pains,” “Ladies Man,” “The Pitts” and “Desperate Housewives.”
Cherones eventually returned to the University of Alabama, where he taught television production classes pro bono for 12 years.
Sherons married Bobby Sherons, with whom she had two children, and then married Joyce Keener until her death in 2006. He is survived by his wife, Carol E. Richards; his daughter, Susan Cherones Lee and her husband Daniel; son Scott Cherones and wife Linda; and grandchildren Jessa and Thomas Cherones, and several brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
