Los Angeles, Jan 10 (.) Emmy-winning producer and director ‘Tom Cherones’, best known for his work on the iconic sitcom ‘Seinfeld’ has passed away at the age of 86, Deadline reported.
The filmmaker died at his home in Florence, Oregon, following a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Cherones was a key creative force behind Seinfeld, having directed and produced the show’s second episode, “The Stakeout,” which aired in May 1990. Over the course of his tenure, he earned six Emmy nominations and won the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy in 1993, sharing the honor with creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. He also made a rare on-screen appearance in the series, appearing once in the fourth episode, “The Pilot.”
Born on September 11, 1939, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Cherones earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of New Mexico before completing a master’s degree in telecommunications at the University of Alabama. He also served four years as a lieutenant in the United States Navy, according to Deadline.
While pursuing his master’s degree, Cherones began working in educational television, producing and directing programs for WQED in Pittsburgh. He moved to Hollywood in 1975, where he secured his first industry job as a production manager on General Hospital.
Cherones made his television directing debut with the 1986 series Babes in the Woods. He joined Seinfeld in 1990, serving as a director and producer on 85 episodes before departing after the show’s fifth season.
Reflecting on his exit, Cherones once said, as quoted by Deadline, “Creator Jerry Seinfeld was tired of the same thing, I guess. We changed writers almost every season, and finally, he just wanted somebody else, another presence, to try to keep it fresh.”
Beyond Seinfeld, Cherones’ directing credits included popular shows such as NewsRadio, Welcome Back, Kotter, Caroline in the City, Annie McGuire, and Ellen, cementing his legacy as a significant figure in American television comedy.
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