James Sheldon

James Sheldon
Born
Leonard James Schleifer[1]

(1920-11-12)November 12, 1920
DiedMarch 12, 2016(2016-03-12) (aged 95)
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina[2]
OccupationTelevision director
Years active1952–1986
Children2[3]

Leonard James Schleifer (November 12, 1920 – March 12, 2016) was an American television director.[4]

Sheldon directed for television programs including The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive, The Donna Reed Show, The Millionaire, Death Valley Days, Route 66, The Love Boat, M*A*S*H, The Dukes of Hazzard, Gunsmoke, Bridget Loves Bernie, Room 222, Harbor Command, Love, American Style, The Waltons, The Virginian, That Girl. The Man from U.N.C.L.E., My Three Sons, Petticoat Junction, Naked City and Sledge Hammer!.[1][2] He died in March 2016 at his home in Manhattan, New York from complications of cancer, at the age of 95.[5][6]

In an interview with novelist Matthew Rettenmund in 2015, Sheldon spoke candidly about his bisexuality, his relationships with actress Loretta Young and actor Clark Gable's daughter Judy Lewis and Ernst Lubitsch's daughter Nicola Lubitsch, discovering Troy Donohue, and his friendships with Tony Randall and James Dean.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gates, Anita (March 17, 2016). "James Sheldon, Director, Dies at 95; Career Reflected TV's Evolution". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Barnes, Mike (March 20, 2016). "James Sheldon, Prolific Director for Television, Dies at 95". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  3. ^ Cunningham, Todd (March 20, 2016). "James Sheldon, Pioneering and Prolific TV Director, Dies at 95". TheWrap. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Rettenmund, Matthew (July 9, 2020). "Late Director James Sheldon on James Dean and Affairs With Men". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  5. ^ Stedman, Alex (March 20, 2016). "James Sheldon, Prolific TV Director, Dies at 95". Variety. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Romano, Nick (March 20, 2016). "James Sheldon dead: Twilight Zone, MASH TV director dies at 95". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Rettenmund, Matthew (9 July 2020). "Late Director James Sheldon on James Dean and Affairs With Men". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
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