Edwin Sherin(January 15, 1930 – May 4, 2017) was an American-Canadian director and producer. He is best known as the director and executive producer of theNBCdrama seriesLaw & Order(1991–2005).
Edwin Sherin | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 15, 1930 |
| Died | May 4, 2017(aged 87) Lockeport,Nova Scotia,Canada |
| Nationality | |
| Other names | Ed Sherin |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, director, producer |
| Years active | 1971–2009 |
| Spouse(s) | Pamela Vevers (divorced) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Jace Alexander(stepson) |
Early life
editSherin was born inDanville, Pennsylvania,the son of Ruth (néeBerger), a homemaker, and Joseph Sherin, a textile worker.[1]He grew up inHattiesburg, Mississippi,andInwood, Manhattan.[1]He had a sister, Edith Sherin Markson, who was among the founders of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.[1][2]
When he was 16 years old, Sherin dropped out ofDeWitt Clinton High Schooland traveled to West Texas, where he worked on a cattle ranch. He eventually resumed his education at theFountain Valley Schoolin Colorado Springs, graduating in 1948.[1]In 1952, he graduated fromBrown University,where he received a degree in international relations.[1]After graduation, Sherin enlisted in the Navy and fought in theKorean War.[1]
Career
editSherin started out as an actor, training at thePaul Mann's Actors Workshop and studying withJohn Housemanat theAmerican Shakespeare Theatre.[1]
He metJane Alexanderwhile serving as the resident director atWashington, DC'sArena Stage,where he cast her andJames Earl JonesinThe Great White Hope.In 1968, he directed the play and its two stars onBroadway,[3]and the production marked the start not only of his Broadway directorial career, but a long professional and personal relationship with Alexander as well. In August 1973, he cast Jones as King Lear for his production onKing LearatThe Public Theater'sShakespeare in the Park.[4]
He directed Alexander inFirst Monday in Octoberon Broadway in 1978,Hedda Gablerat the Hartman Theatre (Connecticut) in 1981[5]in the American Playhouse television movieA Marriage: Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz,in 1991.[6]and in the Broadway revival ofThe Visit.[7]
Sherin directed six plays at Washington, D.C.'sArena Stage,one per season for six consecutive seasons:The Wall(1963–64),Galileo(1964–65),St. Joan(1965–66),Macbeth(1966–67),The Iceman Cometh(1967–68), andKing Lear(1968–69).[8]
Sherin won the 1969Drama Desk Awardfor Outstanding Director forThe Great White Hope[9]and was nominated for a 1974Tony Awardfor Best Direction of a Play, forFind Your Way Home.
In 1972, he directed a revival ofThe Time of Your Life,at theHuntington Hartford Theaterin Los Angeles, with a cast that includedHenry Fonda,Richard DreyfussandJane Alexander.[10]
In 1974, Sherin directed a revival ofA Streetcar Named DesireatLondon'sPiccadilly TheatrewithClaire Bloom,Martin Shaw,Joss Ackland,andMorag Hood.[11]
In 2009, Sherin directed Alexander again in Thom Thomas'sA Moon to Dance ByatThe Pittsburgh Playhouse,an then at theGeorge Street PlayhouseinNew Brunswick, New Jersey.
Television
editSherin executive-produced 163 episodes of theNBCdramaLaw & Order,between 1993 and 2000.[12]His television directing credits include all three editions of the currentLaw & Orderfranchise;Hill Street Blues;L.A. Law;Doogie Howser, M.D.;Homicide: Life on the Street;[13]andMedium.[14][15]
Sherin directed the television filmsLena: My 100 Children(1987),The Father Clements Story(1987),Settle the Score(1989),Daughter of the Streets(1990), andA Marriage: Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz(1991).
Movies
editSherin directed two theatrical films:Valdez Is ComingwithBurt LancasterandSusan ClarkandMy Old Man's PlacewithWilliam DevaneandMichael Moriarty.Both films were released in 1971.
Personal life
editSherin's first wife was actress Pamela Vevers, with whom he had three sons. The marriage ended in divorce.[1][16]In 1975, he married actressJane Alexander.[12]
He and Alexander becameCanadiancitizens, having maintained a home inLockeport, Nova Scotiastarting in 1998.[17]
Death
editSherin died on May 4, 2017, in Nova Scotia, aged 87.[18][19]
Director
edit- Prymate(2004)[20]
- The Visit(1992 revival)[7]
- Goodbye Fidel(1980)[21]
- First Monday in October(1978)
- Do You Turn Somersaults?(1978) (also at theKennedy Center)[22]
- The Eccentricities of a Nightingale(1976)[23]
- Rex(1976)[24]
- Sweet Bird of Youth(1975 revival)[25]
- Of Mice and Men(1974 revival)[26]
- 6 Rms Riv Vu(1972)[27]
- An Evening With Richard Nixon and...byGore Vidal(1972)[28]
- The White Rose and the Red(1964)[29]
- A Streetcar Named Desire(1974)[30]
References
edit- ^abcdefghGrimes, William(May 8, 2017)."Edwin Sherin, Theater and 'Law & Order' Director, Dies at 87".The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon February 24, 2020.RetrievedApril 21,2021.
- ^"Edith Markson, 81, Promoter of Theater".The New York Times.September 16, 1994. p. B-8. Archived fromthe originalon March 23, 2020.RetrievedApril 21,2021.
- ^Barnes, Clive(1968-10-04)."Theatre: Howard Sackler's 'Great White Hope'; Play at the Alvin Stars James Earl Jones Edwin Sherin Staged Cheated Hero's Story".The New York Times.p. 40.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-08-11.Retrieved2023-11-29.
- ^Gussow, Mel(August 2, 1973)."James Earl Jones Meets the Challenge of King Lear".The New York Times.p. 28.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-12.RetrievedAugust 2,2023.
- ^Gussow, Mel(1981-10-02)."Theater:Jane Alexander Plays 'Hedda Gabler'".The New York Times.p. C-5.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-05-24.Retrieved2011-04-10.
- ^"Chapter: 1991 Section:Variety(Weekly) July 15, 1991 ".Variety and Daily Variety Television Reviews.Vol. 17: 1991–1992. New York:Garland Publishing, Inc.1994. p. 70.ISBN0-8240-3796-0.Retrieved2023-11-29– viaGoogle Books.
- ^abRich, Frank(1992-01-24)."Review/Theater: The Visit; Revenge and Common Greed As the Root of Much Evil".The New York Times.p. C-1.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-03-12.Retrieved2023-11-29.
- ^"Production History"(PDF)(Press release).Arena Stage.2023-12-01. pp.4–5.Retrieved2023-12-01.
- ^"History | 1968-1969 15th Drama Desk Awards".Drama Desk.Archived from the original on 2008-07-04.Retrieved2023-12-01.
- ^Lane, Bill (1972-04-08)."Hollywood Beat: Fans Still Talking About Grammy Deal".Baltimore Afro-American.p. 10.Retrieved2012-01-22– viaGoogle News Archive.
- ^Kolin, Philip C. (2000)."London, 1974".Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.p. 97.ISBN0-521-62610-2– viaGoogle Books.
- ^abRoberts, Jerry (March 2002)."54th Annual DGA Awards Preview | Robert B. Aldrich Award".DGAMagazine.Vol. 26, no. 6. Archived fromthe originalon 2002-04-16.Retrieved2011-04-10.
- ^Bianculli, David(1997-11-12)."A Trifecta For 'Homicide' Fans".Daily News.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-04-18.Retrieved2011-04-10.
- ^"Filmography, Edwin Sherin"Archived2012-09-23 at theWayback Machinemovies.msn.com, accessed April 11, 2011
- ^"Edwin Sherin, Filmography"movies.amctv.com, accessed April 11, 2011
- ^"Notes on People",The New York Times,March 15, 1975, p. 13
- ^"South Shore enchants actress".The Chronicle Herald.Halifax, Nova Scotia. Archived fromthe originalon September 17, 2018.Retrieved2017-05-06.
- ^McNary, Dave (May 5, 2017)."'Law & Order' Director, DGA Official Ed Sherin Dies at 87 ".Variety.RetrievedMay 7,2017.
- ^Shanley, Patrick (May 5, 2017)."Edwin Sherin, Director of 'The Great White Hope' on Broadway and 'Law & Order,' Dies at 87".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedMay 7,2017.
- ^Jones, Kenneth."'Prymate' Quietly Closes on Broadway"Archived2010-06-19 at theWayback Machineplaybill.com, May 10, 2004
- ^Gussow, Mel."Play: 'Goodbye Fidel' About Cuban Exiles; Between Parties"The New York Times(abstract), April 24, 1980
- ^Arbuzov, Alekseĭ Nikolaevich.ScriptDo You Turn Somersaults?: A Play in Two Parts(books.google.com), Samuel French, Inc., 1978,ISBN0-573-60832-6,p.4
- ^Barnes, Clive."Stage:Williams' Eccentricities"The New York Times(abstract), November 24, 1976, p. 23
- ^Barnes, Clive. "'Rex' by Rodgers Stars Williamson",The New York Times,April 26, 1976, p. 32
- ^Barnes, Clive."The Stage:'Sweet Bird' of Brooklyn"The New York Times(abstract), December 4, 1975, p. 53
- ^Kanfer, Stefan."The Theater: Brute Strength".Time.December 30, 1974.
- ^Randall, Bob.Script6 rms riv vu: a Comedy in Two Acts(books.google.com), Samuel French, Inc., 1973,ISBN0-573-61545-4,p. 3
- ^"An Evening With Richard Nixon and... Broadway Original Cast".BroadwayWorld.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-13.Retrieved2023-12-01.
- ^"The White Rose and the Red Off-Broadway Original Cast".BroadwayWorld.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-15.Retrieved2023-12-01.
- ^"A Streetcar Named Desire | Cast & Crew".theatricalia.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-15.Retrieved2020-02-06.
