Peter Werner, an Emmy-nominated television director who won an Academy Award for Best Short Film in 1977, died suddenly this morning in Wilmington, NC of heart complications following a ruptured aorta. He turned 76.
Werner was born in New York in January 1947 and holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Documentary Film. He began as a VISTA volunteer in downtown Detroit before founding a Quaker high school in Deerfield, MA. While teaching in Vermont, he met Frances Flaherty, widow of Robert Flaherty, known as the father of documentary film.
She became Werner’s friend and mentor, and he made a documentary about her that aired on PBS. It was produced by Werner’s younger brother, Tom Werner, who later became a top TV comedy producer behind hit shows such as The Cosby Show, that ’70s show, Roseanne And The Conners as well as co-owners of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club.
Student film by Peter Werner of the American Film Institute In the ice regionHe wrote and directed based on the short story by Joyce Carol Oates, which screened at the New York Film Festival and earned him an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short, which he shared with Andre R. Guttfreund .
Since then, Werner has directed documentaries, a number of television films and miniseries, episodic television programs and pilots, including Nash Bridges.
“I will greatly miss Peter’s wry sense of humor and the kindness that filled his soul.” Nash Bridges Creator Carlton Cuse said. “He was a good director and an even better person.”
Werner’s extensive TV series directing credits include Ghost Whisperer, Medium, Another World, The Wonder Years, Moonlighting, tree city, Justified, Grimm, Unreal, Blue Bloods, The Blacklist, Elementary, Unforgettable, Six And Law and order: SVU.
“Peter was a great director who made many of the groundbreaking episodes moonlightThe most famous is the “black and white sequence”, also known as “The dream sequence always rings twice”. moonlight And Middle Creator Glenn Gordon Caron. “He was a good friend, a good man and a gentle soul.”
During his career, Werner was nominated for four Emmy and three DGA awards. He won an ACE Cable Award for the HBO film, the picture, with Albert Finney and a Peabody for NBCs LBJ: The early yearswhich also earned him an Emmy nomination.
In addition to his brother Tom, Werner is survived by his wife Kedren; children Lillie, Katharine and James; and grandchildren Asher, Indira and Uma.
Source: Deadline
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
