Eric Till (born 24 November 1929) is an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

film and

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

director working in Canada, the United States, and Europe since the 1960s. His 1977 film '' It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet'' was entered into the 10th Moscow International Film Festival.

Career

After directing for the '' Armchair Theatre'' and '' Wednesday Play'' series' in the UK, Till emigrated to Canada in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

. He has directed numerous Canadian and American TV films from the 1960s onwards, including ''An American Christmas Carol'' starring

Henry Winkler Henry Franklin Winkler, OBE (born October 30, 1945), is an American actor, comedian, author, executive producer, and director. After rising to fame as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the American television series '' Happy Days'', Winkler has ...

, ''

Getting Married in Buffalo Jump ''Getting Married in Buffalo Jump'' is a 1990 Canadian TV movie filmed in Alberta, Canada. In specific Cowley, Lundbreck, and Pincher Creek. It was directed by Eric Till and stars Wendy Crewson and Paul Gross. Plot After her father's death So ...

'', and '' To Catch a Killer'', starring

Brian Dennehy Brian Manion Dennehy (; July 9, 1938 – April 15, 2020) was an American actor of stage, television, and film. He won two Tony Awards, an Olivier Award, and a Golden Globe, and received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Dennehy had roles i ...

as psychotic serial killer

John Wayne Gacy John Wayne Gacy (March 17, 1942 – May 10, 1994) was an American serial killer and sex offender who raped, tortured, and murdered at least 33 young men and boys. Gacy regularly performed at children's hospitals and charitable events as ...

. Films he has directed include '' A Great Big Thing'', '' Hot Millions'', '' A Fan's Notes'', '' It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet'', '' Bethune'', ''

Wild Horse Hank ''Wild Horse Hank'' is a 1979 Canadian adventure drama film directed by Eric Till and starring Linda Blair, Michael Wincott and Richard Crenna. It is based on the 1978 teen novel ''The Wild Horse Killers'' written by Mel Ellis. Plot ''Wild Hors ...

'', ''

Improper Channels ''Improper Channels'' is a Canadian comedy-drama film, directed by Eric Till and released in 1981. The film stars Alan Arkin as an architect named Jeff Martley, and Mariette Hartley as his estranged wife Diana. After their daughter Nancy is mildl ...

'', '' Voices from Within'' (also known as ''Silhouette''), ', ''

Luther Luther may refer to: People * Martin Luther (1483–1546), German monk credited with initiating the Protestant Reformation * Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), American minister and leader in the American civil rights movement * Luther (gi ...

'' and the

Muppet The Muppets are an American ensemble cast of puppet characters known for an absurdist, burlesque, and self-referential style of variety-sketch comedy. Created by Jim Henson in 1955, they are the focus of a media franchise that encompasses ...

television series and specials '' Fraggle Rock'', ''

The Christmas Toy ''The Christmas Toy'' is a 1986 television film directed by Eric Till and produced by The Jim Henson Company, featuring Jim Henson's Muppets, including Rugby the Tiger who remembers how he was the Christmas Toy last year, and thinks he is going t ...

'' and '' A Muppet Family Christmas''. His work for the

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (french: Société Radio-Canada), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a federal Crown corporation that receives funding from the governmen ...

(CBC) included some of the following: the mini-series of

Pierre Berton Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, CC, O.Ont. (July 12, 1920 – November 30, 2004) was a Canadian writer, journalist and broadcaster. Berton wrote 50 best-selling books, mainly about Canadiana, Canadian history and popular culture. He also wr ...

's '' The National Dream'', a movie of

Brian Friel Brian Patrick Friel (c. 9 January 1929 – 2 October 2015) was an Irish dramatist, short story writer and founder of the Field Day Theatre Company. He had been considered one of the greatest living English-language dramatists. (subscription requ ...

's ''Freedom of the City'',

Katherine Anne Porter Katherine Anne Porter (May 15, 1890 – September 18, 1980) was an American journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and political activist. Her 1962 novel ''Ship of Fools'' was the best-selling novel in America that year, but her sh ...

's ''Pale Horse, Pale Rider'', Marghanita Laski's ''The Offshore Island'', John Hopkins's ''Talking to a Stranger'', the television films ''

Shocktrauma ''Shocktrauma'' is a 1982 television film produced in Canada and syndicated nationally in the United States by sponsor General Foods. The screenplay by Stephen Kandel is based on the book by Jon Franklin and Alan Doelp, which details the true ...

'', '' Turning to Stone'' and '' Win, Again!'', and the mini-series ''

Glory Enough for All ''Glory Enough for All'' is a 1988 Canadian television movie directed by Eric Till and written by Grahame Woods, depicting the discovery and isolation of insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Herbert Best. It was the winner of nine 1989 Gemi ...

'' about the discoverers of

insulin Insulin (, from Latin ''insula'', 'island') is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in humans by the ''INS'' gene. It is considered to be the main anabolic hormone of the body. It regulates the metabolism ...

. Till has directed performances of the National Ballet of Canada, the Bolshoi Ballet, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for television as well as the final concert of the famous conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. In 2005 he was awarded the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. On August 12, 2008, it was announced that Till would be receiving the 2008 Directors Guild of Canada Lifetime Achievement Award.Modern approach turns Nutcracker into thriller
, Windsor Star, December 19, 2008

References

External links

* 1929 births Living people English film directors English television directors Film directors from Toronto Governor General's Performing Arts Award winners {{UK-film-director-stub