Jeff Margolis
Biography
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One of the busiest men in Hollywood, this extremely prolific television director has helmed numerous musical variety specials, beauty pageants, awards shows, and gala tributes. Margolis' flair for comedy and musical variety formats was evident from the beginning of his career in the early 1970s. The impressive list of performers he has directed includes Bill Cosby, Beatrice Arthur, Julie...
Biography
One of the busiest men in Hollywood, this extremely prolific television director has helmed numerous musical variety specials, beauty pageants, awards shows, and gala tributes. Margolis' flair for comedy and musical variety formats was evident from the beginning of his career in the early 1970s. The impressive list of performers he has directed includes Bill Cosby, Beatrice Arthur, Julie Andrews, Susan Anton, Olivia Newton-John, Ringo Starr, Perry Como, Kenny Rogers, David Copperfield, Dolly Parton, Carol Burnett, and Jerry Lewis. His feature debut was appropriately enough "Richard Pryor--Live in Concert" (1979). Margolis is highly regarded for his calm professionalism when faced with the many stresses of live telecasts. That he has directed each annual Oscar telecast from 1989-1995 is a testament to the truth of this evaluation. He received an Emmy for his direction of the 67th Annual Academy Awards presentation.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
The American Music Awards 20th Anniversary Special
(1993)
Director
Richard Pryor Live in Concert
(1979)
Director
Cast (Feature Film)
Get Bruce
(1999)
Himself
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Get Bruce
(1999)
Other
Director (Special)
The 39th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards
(2004)
Director
Motown 45
(2004)
Director
The Disco Ball
(2003)
Director
The Honeymooners 50th Anniversary
(2002)
Director
United We Stand
(2001)
Director
The 80th Annual Miss America Pageant
(2000)
Director
David Copperfield: The Great Escapes
(2000)
Segment Director
The 27th Annual American Music Awards
(2000)
Director
The 79th Annual Miss America Pageant
(1999)
Director
The 26th Annual American Music Awards
(1999)
Director
Amy Grant... A Christmas to Remember
(1999)
Director
Quincy Jones -- The First 50 Years
(1998)
Director
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1998)
Director
To Life! America Celebrates Israel's 50th
(1998)
Director
American Music Awards 1998
(1998)
Director
The 78th Annual Miss America Pageant
(1998)
Director
The 77th Annual Miss America Pageant
(1997)
Director
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1997)
Director
Happy Birthday Elizabeth -- A Celebration of Life
(1997)
Director
1997 American Music Awards
(1997)
Director
All-Star Countryfest 96
(1996)
Director
The 76th Annual Miss America Pageant
(1996)
Director
The 11th Annual Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame
(1996)
Director
Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony
(1996)
Director
1996 American Music Awards
(1996)
Director
The 68th Annual Academy Awards
(1996)
Director
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1995)
Director
The 67th Annual Academy Awards
(1995)
Director
1995 American Music Awards
(1995)
Director
Rudy Coby: The Coolest Magician on Earth
(1995)
Director
1995 Miss America Pageant
(1995)
Director
1994 American Music Awards
(1994)
Director
Concert of the Americas
(1994)
Director
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1994)
Director
The 66th Annual Academy Awards Presentation
(1994)
Director
The Miss America Pageant
(1994)
Director
A Musical Christmas at Walt Disney World
(1993)
Director
The 65th Annual Academy Awards Presentation
(1993)
Director
The American Music Awards
(1993)
Director
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1993)
Director
Together For Our Children -- M.U.S.I.C.
(1993)
Director
The Billy Ray Cyrus Special -- Dreams Come True
(1993)
Director
The Miss America Pageant
(1993)
Director
Taco Bell Presents: Battle of the Bands '93
(1993)
Director
The American Television Awards
(1993)
Director
Taco Bell Presents The USA Music Challenge
(1992)
Director
Holiday Greetings from the Ed Sullivan Show
(1992)
Director
The Jaleel White Special
(1992)
Director
The 64th Annual Academy Awards Presentation
(1992)
Director
The 63rd Annual Academy Awards Presentation
(1991)
Director
The American Music Awards
(1991)
Director
Welcome Home, America! - A USO Salute to America's Sons and Daughters
(1991)
Director
The 62nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation
(1990)
Director
The American Music Awards
(1990)
Director
An Evening With Bette, Cher, Goldie, Meryl, Olivia, Lily and Robin
(1990)
Director
Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration
(1990)
Director
MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon
(1990)
Director
Sinatra 75: The Best Is Yet to Come
(1990)
Director
Night of 100 Stars III
(1990)
Director
Julie and Carol: Together Again
(1989)
Director
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening
(1989)
Director
The 61st Annual Academy Awards Presentation
(1989)
Director
The American Music Awards
(1989)
Director
The Mrs. America Pageant
(1988)
Director
Kenny Rogers Classic Weekend
(1988)
Director
ABC Presents a Royal Gala
(1988)
Director
The American Music Awards
(1988)
Director
The Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies
(1987)
Director
The American Music Awards
(1987)
Director
Happy Birthday, Hollywood!
(1987)
Director
Motown Merry Christmas
(1987)
Director
Superstars & Their Moms
(1987)
Director
MISS HOLLYWOOD
(1986)
Director
The 38th Annual Emmy Awards
(1986)
Director
The American Music Awards
(1986)
Director
America Picks the No. 1 Songs
(1986)
Director
Whatta Year... 1986
(1986)
Director
The ABC All-Star Spectacular
(1985)
Director
The 37th Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards
(1985)
Director
The Magic of David Copperfield
(1984)
Director
Perry Como's Christmas in England
(1984)
Director
Pumpboys and Dinettes on Television
(1983)
Director
Perry Como's Christmas in New York
(1983)
Director
Kenny Rogers in Concert
(1983)
Director
Twilight Theater
(1982)
Director
TV Funnies
(1982)
Director
Perry Como's Easter in Guadalajara
(1982)
Director
Perry Como's French-Canadian Christmas
(1981)
Director
60 Years of Seduction
(1981)
Director
Whatever Became Of...?
(1981)
Director
Olivia Newton-John's Hollywood Nights
(1980)
Director
The Sensational, Shocking, Wonderful, Wacky '70s
(1980)
Director
The Beatrice Arthur Special
(1980)
Director
The Captain and Tennille Songbook
(1979)
Director
Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring
(1978)
Director
Ringo
(1978)
Director
Dick Clark's Good Ol' Days: From Bobby Sox to Bikinis
(1977)
Director
The Olivia Newton-John Show
(1976)
Director
The Osmonds Special
(1974)
Director
Cast (Special)
VH1 Goes Inside The Miss America Pageant
(2003)
Interviewee (Executive Producer/Director 1993-2000, Miss America Pageant)
Producer (Special)
Motown 45
(2004)
Executive Producer
The 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
(2004)
Executive Producer
The 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
(2003)
Executive Producer
Britain's Brilliant Prodigies Project
(2003)
Executive Producer
The Disco Ball
(2003)
Co-Executive Producer
The Honeymooners 50th Anniversary
(2002)
Executive Producer
The 8th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
(2002)
Executive Producer
United We Stand
(2001)
Executive Producer
SAG Awards Show
(2001)
Executive Producer
Powers of the Paranormal: Live on Stage!
(2000)
Executive Producer
The 80th Annual Miss America Pageant
(2000)
Producer
SAG Awards Show
(2000)
Executive Producer
The First Family's Holiday Gift to America: A Personal Tour of the White House
(2000)
Executive Producer
Amy Grant... A Christmas to Remember
(1999)
Executive Producer
Up Close & Personal... The Search For Miss America 2000
(1999)
Producer
SAG Awards Show
(1999)
Executive Producer
The 79th Annual Miss America Pageant
(1999)
Producer
Quincy Jones -- The First 50 Years
(1998)
Executive Producer
The 78th Annual Miss America Pageant
(1998)
Producer
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1998)
Producer
The 77th Annual Miss America Pageant
(1997)
Producer
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1997)
Producer
Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony
(1996)
Executive Producer
The 76th Annual Miss America Pageant
(1996)
Producer
The 11th Annual Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame
(1996)
Executive Producer
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1995)
Producer
1995 Miss America Pageant
(1995)
Producer
The Miss America Pageant
(1994)
Producer
Concert of the Americas
(1994)
Producer
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1994)
Producer
A Musical Christmas at Walt Disney World
(1993)
Executive Producer
A Gala For the President at Ford's Theatre
(1993)
Producer
The Miss America Pageant
(1993)
Producer
The Jaleel White Special
(1992)
Executive Producer
Roseanne Arnold
(1992)
Producer
Night of 100 Stars III
(1990)
Producer
An Evening With Bette, Cher, Goldie, Meryl, Olivia, Lily and Robin
(1990)
Executive Producer
Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration
(1990)
Coproducer
Julie and Carol: Together Again
(1989)
Executive Producer
The Mrs. America Pageant
(1988)
Producer
Kenny Rogers Classic Weekend
(1988)
Producer
ABC Presents a Royal Gala
(1988)
Producer
Happy Birthday, Hollywood!
(1987)
Producer
The Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies
(1987)
Producer
America Picks the No. 1 Songs
(1986)
Producer
Whatta Year... 1986
(1986)
Producer
MISS HOLLYWOOD
(1986)
Producer
Perry Como's Christmas in England
(1984)
Producer
Perry Como's Christmas in New York
(1983)
Producer
Misc. Crew (Special)
But... Seriously
(1994)
Acknowledgment
Life Events
1974
Directed "The Osmonds Special"
1976
Director of "Cos", an acclaimed short-lived variety series starring Bill Cosby
1979
Feature directing debut, "Richard Pryor--Live in Concert"
1989
Directed his first Oscar telecast, the "61st Annual Academy Awards Presentation"
1989
Directed "Julie and Carol: Together Again", TV special which reunited Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett
1990
Directed and co-produced "Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration"; won an Emmy for his direction
1990
Directed "Sinatra 75: The Best Is Yet to Come"
